"Sen Blackburn Demands Investigation into UN Agency Employee Detaining Israeli Hostage"

Senator Marsha Blackburn is calling for an investigation into allegations that a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employee detained one of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas during the October 7 attack on Israel. Blackburn expressed concern over the UN's lack of action in investigating or preventing the siphoning of UNRWA funding by terrorists. She has requested a response from the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and the UNRWA Commissioner-General regarding the allegations and UNRWA's process for ensuring its facilities are not used to support terrorist activities. UNRWA has called the claims "unsubstantiated" and urged the journalist to provide more information. Germany recently froze funding to UNRWA amid reports of complicity in controversies, including the dissemination of antisemitic material and inciting violence.