UN Watch Welcomes Historic U.S. Justice Department Ruling Stripping UNRWA of Immunity
“Victims of Terror Will Finally Have Their Day in Court”
GENEVA - UN Watch today welcomed the U.S. Department of Justice’s landmark reversal of previous policy, announcing that UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, is not immune from lawsuits in American courts for its alleged complicity in atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7th.
The stunning decision, issued yesterday in a letter to a federal judge in New York, confirms that UNRWA must answer for its conduct. The Justice Department declared that the previous administration’s view - shielding UNRWA from suit - was wrong.
Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch, stated:
“This is a watershed moment for the victims of October 7th and for all those who seek justice. UNRWA can no longer hide behind the cloak of diplomatic immunity. They must now answer for their role in enabling Hamas terrorism.”
“For over a decade, UN Watch has exposed UNRWA’s deep and systemic ties to terrorist organizations, from Hamas teachers in their schools to storage of weapons in UN facilities. Today’s ruling opens the door for victims to finally vindicate their rights based on the evidence we helped bring to light.”
“This ruling sends an unmistakable message: Those who aid and abet terror - even under a UN flag - will be held accountable.”
Neuer noted that the lawsuits against UNRWA, including on behalf of October 7th victims, rely heavily on years of investigative reports by UN Watch documenting UNRWA’s indoctrination of children to hatred and glorification of violence, employment of terrorist operatives, and operational complicity with Hamas.
Among the evidence cited by Neuer was UN Watch’s 2024 exposé revealing that Fathi al-Sharif, the head of UNRWA’s teachers’ union in Lebanon, was simultaneously a senior Hamas terror chief.
The U.S. Department of Justice issued the April 24th letter reversing the prior U.S. stance, citing constitutional principles and international law to conclude that UNRWA is a mere affiliate - not a protected organ - of the United Nations, and thus lacks immunity.
The DOJ found that “the complaint alleges atrocious conduct on the part of UNRWA,” and that “the Government believes they must answer these allegations in American courts.”
UN Watch pledged to continue supporting victims seeking justice and to urge other governments to take similar action against UNRWA and its officials, including Philippe Lazzarini.
STUNNING REVERSAL: 🇺🇸 U.S. Department of Justice Strips UNRWA of Immunity. “The complaint alleges atrocious conduct on the part of UNRWA. The Government believes they must answer these allegations in American courts. The prior Administration’s view that they do not was wrong.”
🧵 pic.twitter.com/0NWkkulqER- Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) April 25, 2025
