Call Me Back - with Dan Senor How the U.N. Weaponizes the Famine Narrative in Gaza - with Rich Goldberg
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Aug 28, 2025 Rich Goldberg, a senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a veteran of the Trump administrations, dives into the complex humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He discusses how the U.N. allegedly weaponizes famine narratives against Israel, bringing attention to biased reporting and the role of Hamas. The conversation also highlights the shift toward non-UN entities for aid, the challenges of data collection in conflict zones, and the unintended consequences of neutrality in humanitarian efforts. Goldberg’s insights unravel the intricacies of aid and geopolitical influence.
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UNRWA Became Gaza's Aid Economy
- UNRWA became the dominant aid coordinator in Gaza after Israel's disengagement and effectively runs much of the local aid economy.
- That role created deep institutional ties between UN agencies and Hamas that shape how aid is distributed.
UN And Israel Clash Over UNRWA's Role
- Israel concluded UNRWA was compromised by ties to Hamas and moved to sideline it from Gaza operations after October 7th.
- The UN leadership responded by insisting other UN agencies would not replace UNRWA, protecting its business model.
UNRWA Facilities Linked To Hamas Structures
- Goldberg recounts UNRWA staff and facilities being tied to Hamas operations and tunnels during the conflict.
- Those links helped convince Israeli officials UNRWA could not be trusted with Gaza distributions.