Agudath Israel of America, an organization that lobbies for Haredi interests, released a statement on Friday applauding the U.S.’s suspension of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. 

“The idea of agency employees actually partnering with Hamas and being complicit in the bloodthirsty torture, murder and kidnapping of innocents, staggers the imagination,” the Agudah statement said. 

Since Oct. 7, Agudah has encouraged the U.S. federal government to provide funding and weapons to Israel and opposed a ceasefire. While Haredi leaders are generally opposed to Israel’s secular orientation, Agudah’s staunch pro-Israel advocacy reflects an affinity Haredim nonetheless maintain with Israel and its citizens.

Several countries, including the U.S., suspended funding to the agency after Israeli authorities alleged that some UNRWA employees were involved in the planning of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack. Philippe Lazzarini, the agency’s commissioner general, said UNRWA launched an independent investigation of Israel’s claims, and that he hopes countries will still find a way to support humanitarian efforts in Palestine.

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