The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill with a 286-134 vote that includes a provision to cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), a key organization providing aid to Palestinian refugees, through the next fiscal year. This decision comes amid warnings of a looming famine in Gaza, where UNRWA plays a crucial role in providing food, water, and shelter. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has sparked significant controversy, with critics like Sen. Chris Van Hollen and Rep. Jamaal Bowman arguing it could exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, describing it as a "death sentence for thousands." Proponents of the bill, including the Republican-led House Appropriations Committee, highlight its Israel-focused provisions, including almost $4 billion allocated to Israel for defense, while also prohibiting funding for UNRWA and some other UN functions. The spending package has drawn criticism from both sides of the aisle, with progressive House Democrats expressing strong opposition to the UNRWA funding cut, describing it as a moral failure and a potential death sentence for thousands in Gaza.
“An incredible moral failure.” The US House of Representatives has approved a $1.2 trillion funding bill that would ban funding for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) amid the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza https://t.co/j4udH5oV7z https://t.co/vRN24FqqsT
To keep the US government open, Democrats in Congress have shamefully acquiesced to a Republican demand to stop funding UNRWA for a year. That aggravates the starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza to whom UNRWA is uniquely able to deliver food. https://t.co/9itRsI8KXZ
Thanks to Senator @ChrisVanHollen, who has been a voice of conscience as Gaza faces starvation. It staggers me that the US is responding to famine in Gaza by defunding the UN agency best placed to ease the starvation. https://t.co/9Sm7EqYj2x
The House has voted 286-134 to pass the spending bill that includes a provision to cut funding to UNRWA — a UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees — through next year. The bill now heads to the Senate. Here are the 22 Democrats who voted against the bill: https://t.co/uwMiAlqhHU https://t.co/Cbb1I4W3Dp
The House has voted 286-134 to pass the spending bill that includes a provision to cut funding to UNRWA — a UN agency that aids Palestinian refugees — through next year. 23 Democrats voted against the bill. The bill now heads to the Senate. https://t.co/Cbb1I4W3Dp
Progressive "no" votes over restrictions on UNRWA funding could be high – as many as 20, per one senior House Democrat. https://t.co/cu9or9Q5td
Gaza is starving. The UN is trying to feed them. Yet many in Congress seem happy to be part of the starvation caucus – more focused on attacking the UN than getting desperately-needed aid to suffering Palestinians. https://t.co/yXw9Jyso1r
Lawmakers Want To Prohibit Funding of UN Palestinian Aid Agency With Latest Budget Bill https://t.co/PPZe4mtVSM
As Famine Looms in Gaza, Lawmakers Pushing to Cut Off U.S. Funding for UNRWA for Another Year https://t.co/PPPbuxLDoP
Progressive House Democrats heavily criticized a provision in the recently unveiled spending package that would halt funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides food, water and shelter to Palestinians in Gaza. https://t.co/TetCue2wnw
US congressional leaders propose Biden-backed spending bill that would cut funding for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees https://t.co/QLgt7khQ6Z https://t.co/NVXx9GGJFe
AIPAC commends Congress for including key pro-Israel provisions in the funding bills for Fiscal Year 2024. Importantly, the legislation provides the full $3.3 billion in U.S. security assistance to Israel, as agreed to in the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding. This essential… https://t.co/UrexksvQFw
Rep. Jamaal Bowman blasted the restrictions on United Nations Relief and Works Agency funding inserted in the recently unveiled $1.2 trillion spending package to avert a partial government shutdown. Follow live: https://t.co/lg7AZYOnOD https://t.co/HbtJuGkSBk
A massive congressional spending bill unveiled on Thursday contains a provision which would cut U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency until March 2025, according to CBS News. https://t.co/rO7ME1xd2O
A $1.2 trillion funding package hammered out by #US lawmakers says that US government money -- either leftover funds from the current year or in the next fiscal year -- “may not be used for a contribution, grant or other payment” for #UNRWA. https://t.co/1jgwATS2v4
The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee is highlighting the Israel-focused provisions included in its spending package, which allocates almost $4 billion to Israel for defense and prohibits funding for UNRWA and some other UN functions. https://t.co/LpO21Kajfj
Funding deal that Biden said he’d sign ‘immediately’ includes ban on UNRWA aid https://t.co/J14N9ctED1 https://t.co/J14N9ctED1
As Congress tries to cut funding for UNRWA just as it is most desperately needed to avert famine in Gaza, it's worth heeding Sen @ChrisVanHollen's caution that dismantling @UNRWA "would be a death sentence for thousands." https://t.co/mJg74oIVLN