Ashley Moody: U.S. must permanently defund ‘Hamas-tied’ United Nations agency

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody called on the U.S. to “permanently defund” a United Nations agency over purported ties to terrorists.

The attorney general’s office said this week that the organization – the United Nations Relief and Works Agency – “is linked to Hamas and incites hatred” against Jewish people.

“We are demanding Congress stop funding the Hamas-tied United Nations Relief and Works Agency. This group funds antisemitic education and is tied to terrorist organizations,” Moody said. “There is no justification to continue sending this group money, as we would never tolerate American tax dollars being used to advance antisemitic hate here at home.”

The U.S. sends hundreds of millions of dollars to the group, varying by year, per CBS.

Florida was joined in a letter to congressional leaders by 23 other state attorneys general.

The state cited a report detailing how the employees of the organization, also known as UNRWA, are biased against Jewish people and Israel.

America had previously suspended funding the UNRWA, but such action has not yet been permanent. Moody also called for a pause in funding the group unless “serious reform” took place.

The following states joined Moody in her calls to stop funding UNRWA for good: labama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

“Not one more dollar should go to fund this organization so long as it is committed to spreading antisemitism—much less an organization 10% of which had links to foreign terror organization Hamas,” the letter to Congress states.

“While the United States suspended UNRWA’s funding in January, it is time to make that permanent—unless UNRWA engages in serious and clear reform,” it continues. “While UNRWA has fired many employees for participating in the October 7 Hamas-led massacre, even the UN agrees there is more work to be done.”

The coalition of states noted how the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel included “many employees” from UNRWA – and “many” were fired as a result.

“We would never tolerate American tax dollars being used to teach antisemitic hate here at home—and we should hold foreign organizations we support to the same standard,” the coalition said. “Congress should take this opportunity and moment of moral clarity to say enough is enough and stop funding UNRWA for good.”