Congressman Burchett introduces resolution to investigate United Nations & Hamas use of cryptocurrencies

WASHINGTON, D.C., (Feb. 7, 2024) – U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett (TN-02) introduced a concurrent resolution supporting federal investigation of the use of cryptocurrencies by Hamas.

The concurrent resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the Departments of State and Treasury should investigate the use of cryptocurrencies by the terror group Hamas. It also expresses the sense these departments should investigate whether any cryptocurrencies were exchanged between the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNWRA) and Hamas.

“We send the United Nations our taxpayer dollars. We need to be certain that not one penny ends up in the hands of terrorists, whether it’s resources or cash or crypto,” said Rep. Burchett. “This dark money needs to be exposed, and the United States also needs to permanently suspend funding for this agency.”

In January 2024, an Israeli intelligence document reported that a dozen UNWRA employees participated in Hamas’s assault against Israel on October 7, 2023. It also reported that approximately 1,200 of UNWRA employees in Gaza have direct connections to the terror group. The United States has since halted funding for the UNWRA.

An independent Israeli firm, Lionsgate, is currently investigating the UNWRA’s digital wallets to monitor where its cryptocurrency is going, and it found at least one digital wallet that belongs to Hamas is still active.

The full text of the concurrent resolution can be found here.