After US and Italy: Sweden Also Stops Funding UNRWA
Sweden provided SEK 451 million (€39 million) to UNRWA this year but announced an increase in humanitarian funding for the region to SEK 800 million next year, which will be allocated through alternative channels. Israel Foreign Minister: "It's time for all countries to follow these decisions and stop funding UNRWA"
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The Swedish government decided to stop funding UNRWA next year following Israel's claims and testimonies about UNRWA officials collaborating with Hamas during the war and Israel's decision not to cooperate with UNRWA in 2025.
Due to Israel's decision, which will greatly hinder UNRWA's activities, the Swedes decided to stop their support for the organization but continue to invest in aid for Palestinian refugees in other ways, as they call them.
In Israel, they praised the Swedish government's decision, and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said:
I welcome the Swedish government's decision to stop funding UNRWA and direct its humanitarian aid to Gaza through organizations not infiltrated by terrorist activities.
This decision joins the US decision to stop funding UNRWA, Italy's decision to halt funding UNRWA in Gaza, and the Dutch parliament's decision last week to gradually reduce and stop funding UNRWA due to the organization's ties to terrorism.
UNRWA is plagued by Hamas activities. Its employees participated in the massacre on October 7. The organization employs Hamas terrorists. Its facilities served and continue to serve as Hamas headquarters and terrorist purposes.
Funds transferred to UNRWA are used to finance salaries for terrorists.
It's time for all countries to follow these decisions and stop funding UNRWA."
Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini , UNRWA's commissioner-general, expressed his protest against the Swedish government's decision on his official X account: "The decision of the Swedish government to stop funding UNRWA in 2025 is disappointing and comes at the worst time for Palestinian refugees. It is a sad day for Palestinian refugees and the multilateral system, led by Sweden, and it comes at a time when UNRWA is under unprecedented political attacks..."
Lazzarini added: "For the residents of Gaza, this decision will double their suffering over the last 14 months since the horrific Hamas attack on October 7 and the ongoing war. I hope the Swedish government will reconsider its decision and continue its long-standing solidarity by investing both in a political solution and in the human development of Palestine refugees through UNRWA".
This year, Sweden provided 451 million kroner (39 million euros) to UNRWA, and following the announcement to cancel support for UNRWA, the Swedish government announced that it will increase humanitarian funding to the region to 800 million kroner next year, but these funds will be distributed for the benefit of Palestinian refugees through other channels, such as WFP, UNICEF, and others.