On July 1, at the United Nations, Ambassador Jeff Bartos stated that donors should reconsider their support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). He suggested that donors instead support initiatives offering peace and progress for Gaza.
Recently, another European nation announced it would stop funding UNRWA. Finland has joined the U.S. and Sweden in halting contributions to this agency. UNRWA is under scrutiny for potential connections with Gaza’s ruling terrorist group, Hamas. Investigations, including those by USAID Office of Inspector General (OIG) and UN Watch, claim evidence of Hamas infiltration and participation in the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel.
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed the cessation of funding by the end of 2026 but did not outline alternative funding channels for Gaza’s urgent needs. Finland’s decision aligns with actions taken by the Trump administration in 2025 and Sweden in 2024. Both nations redirected their aid elsewhere.
“The international community’s concern about UNRWA in Gaza continues to rise and is supported by damning evidence,” said a member of the Board of Peace reconstruction effort.
The Board of Peace seeks a peaceful future for the region, free from militarization and radicalization. They plan to work only with credible partners, aiming to replace UNRWA with vetted organizations.
Investigations by USAID OIG are ongoing, examining the involvement of 1,500 UNRWA members in terrorism. This scrutiny has led to recommendations that 108 staff members be suspended or barred from U.S.-funded projects. A U.S. official stressed that these findings compel other countries to rethink their support for UNRWA as the sole aid provider in Gaza.
UN Watch’s report suggests that 12% of UNRWA employees in Gaza are linked to terror groups, based on cross-referencing employee lists with seized Hamas records. Executive director Hillel Neuer highlighted Finland’s decision to redirect aid to non-infiltrated agencies like the World Food Programme, urging other democracies to follow suit.
United Nations spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric acknowledged Finland’s past funding and expressed hope for continued cooperation. Finland’s total four-year contribution amounted to $23.23 million, set to end soon. UNRWA did not respond to inquiries about Finland’s funding decisions.
Neuer argues that ending UNRWA funding is crucial for Gaza’s peace plan. He believes dismantling the agency is vital for peace, as it has perpetuated conflict by supporting narratives of a so-called ‘right of return’ against Israel.
Reporter Beth Bailey writes on global conflicts and related topics for Fox News.