A 5K walk/run planned for this weekend at Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA is drawing sharp criticism from conservative commentators and pro-Israel advocates who accuse the event’s organizers, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) USA, of promoting an agenda sympathetic to Hamas under the guise of humanitarian support.
The Gaza 5K, scheduled for August 3, is presented as a charitable fundraiser supporting mental health programs for Palestinian children and refugees impacted by conflict in Gaza. But critics, such as Seattle-based radio host Jason Rantz, argue the event is less about compassion and more about veiled political advocacy for a deeply compromised organization.
Mental Health or Misplaced Sympathy?
According to the event website, proceeds from the Gaza 5K will support “critical psychosocial support” for refugees living in Gaza. The description encourages participants to “connect with folks who share your solidarity and commitment to the mental well-being of refugees,” while enjoying Palestinian cultural performances and community gathering.
Organizers say the event is an opportunity to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and provide much-needed mental health resources to children affected by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
However, Rantz and others see the race as “propaganda masked as compassion,” pointing to allegations that several UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also previously claimed to have found terror tunnels and weapons caches located under and within UNRWA-run facilities — including schools and hospitals.
“This isn’t a charity event — it’s activism cosplay for people who think reposting a Vox headline is foreign policy expertise,” Rantz said in his recent opinion piece. “It’s virtue-signaling dressed up as a jog.”
Funding and Accountability Issues
The credibility of UNRWA has come under growing international scrutiny. Earlier this year, the Biden administration, along with over a dozen nations, suspended funding to the agency after allegations that some of its employees collaborated with Hamas militants during the October 2023 attacks. The Trump administration had previously halted U.S. funding altogether.
UNRWA has denied institutional involvement with terrorism and insists that any inappropriate actions taken by staff members do not reflect the agency’s mission or the majority of its employees. Still, critics say the damage is already done.
“UNRWA can’t be trusted,” Rantz asserts. “They’ve proven to be more of a political tool than a neutral humanitarian organization.”
Calls for Local Accountability
The Gaza 5K’s presence in the Seattle area has prompted calls for elected officials and public figures to avoid the event. Rantz challenged local leaders to reconsider their participation, warning that their attendance could be interpreted as endorsing a group tied to extremism.
“If you’re an official planning to show up, be ready to explain why you’re fundraising for an organization linked to a massacre,” he said. “If you’re a well-meaning tech bro thinking you’re ‘running for peace,’ start by Googling who you’re giving money to.”
A Divisive Event in a Divided Time
The Gaza 5K is just one example of how charity and activism often intersect in controversial ways, especially when it involves the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Supporters of the event argue it offers tangible help to civilians trapped in a humanitarian crisis. Critics contend it offers cover for a politicized and compromised organization.
While there may be genuine concern among participants for the suffering of Palestinian civilians, especially children, the choice of UNRWA as the beneficiary makes the event a lightning rod for criticism.
“This isn’t just a 5K,” Rantz wrote. “It’s terrorist laundering with a pedometer and a keffiyeh.”
As the event nears, tension continues to rise. For some, it’s a moment of solidarity. For others, it’s a troubling show of support for an organization many view as irredeemably compromised. Either way, the Gaza 5K in Redmond is unlikely to pass quietly — and certainly not without controversy.
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