Finland to end funding for UNRWA after current agreement expires
<p>Finland announces it will end its funding for UNRWA when its current agreement expires. Israel’s Foreign Ministry welcomes the move: UNRWA is a hotbed of terrorism.</p> <p><i>(Arutz Sheva-Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)</i></p>
Finland has announced it will not renew its €20 million funding agreement with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The decision follows a previous agreement signed in March 2023, which had provided Finland with a total of 20 million euros to the agency. Finnish Foreign Trade Minister Ville Tavio stated that while Finland will continue to support humanitarian efforts in Palestinian territories, it will no longer fund UNRWA directly.
Instead, Finland will contribute to other organizations like the World Food Programme. The decision came after allegations that UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel, which Tavio had previously suspended Finland's funding over. However, in January 2024, Finland's funding was reinstated following claims that UNRWA was improving oversight of its practices. Despite this, Israel praised Finland's decision, emphasizing the link between UNRWA and Hamas.
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