Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio announced that Finland will end its financial support for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Future aid could instead be channeled through a new UN fund for the reconstruction of Palestine.

Finland, along with more than a dozen other countries, temporarily suspended payments in 2024 following allegations that 12 UNRWA employees may have been involved in the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023. The agency dismissed the employees concerned.

At the time, Finland had a four-year agreement covering 2023-2026, under which it provided €5m ($5.9m) annually in humanitarian aid. After resuming payments in March 2024, Finland continued to meet its obligations under the agreement.

According to Tavio, the government is currently exploring various options for future support. One potential channel is the new UN fund for the reconstruction of Palestine.

(yle, bak)