The US State Department denied reports that it has transferred millions of dollars to two Palestinian universities, one controlled by Hamas, a terrorist organization bent on the destruction of Israel.
The Washington Times had reported that the institutions had participated in the “advocacy, support or glorification of terrorism.” This violates American law, which in 2004 Congress changed, specifically restricting aid to nations or students “involved in or advocating terrorist activity.”
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided more than $140,000 in financial assistance to the Islamic University in the Gaza Strip and 49 individual scholarships.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said US officials confirmed that the two universities the US supports, Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Quds University, do not engage in terrorism.
McCormack also confirmed that the US only awards scholarships to Palestinian students who have no links to terrorism.