(JNS) Israel’s envoy to the United Nations on Tuesday, Oct. 29 hit back against criticism of Jerusalem’s outlawing of the scandal-plagued United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Speaking at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, Ambassador Danny Danon said, “In the last year, we have exposed UNRWA in Gaza as a terrorist front camouflaged as a humanitarian agency,” adding, “Its payroll resembles a most-wanted list, rather than an aid organization.”

The meeting was the Security Council’s quarterly open debate on the Israeli-Palestinian file, with some 50 countries participating.

Many took Israel to task for the Knesset’s passage on Monday of a pair of laws that effectively ends UNRWA’s presence in Israel, and strips its employees of their diplomatic privileges.

UNRWA, the U.N.’s Palestinian-only aid and social services agency, has long been accused of ties to Gazan terror organizations. A number of UNRWA staff have been found to have participated in the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught on Israel.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Washington’s U.N. ambassador, was among those expressing concern at the Knesset’s UNRWA legislation.

“There is no denying the fact: Some UNRWA personnel were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks,” said Thomas-Greenfield.

While acknowledging steps toward reform UNRWA has taken while criticizing the slow pace of their implementation, Thomas-Greenfield called on Guterres to “create a mechanism to review and address allegations that UNRWA personnel have ties to Hamas and other terrorist groups.”

At the same time, Thomas-Greenfield asserted that “there is no alternative to UNRWA when it comes to delivering food and other life-saving aid in Gaza.”

Israel has insisted other U.N. agencies can step in and manage UNRWA’s responsibilities.