The Finnish government announced Friday that it will not renew its funding agreement with UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Finland's Minister for Foreign Trade, Ville Tavio, instructed officials not to extend the aid agreement, which is set to expire, and to channel the funds "through other avenues" instead.
"Finland's support agreement with UNRWA is ending, and funding for Palestinian areas will continue through other channels," Tavio stated. He explained that the multi-year agreement between Finland and UNRWA was signed during the previous government's term, and he has decided against renewing it. "The level of funding is not decreasing, but is being provided through other channels, such as the World Food Programme (WFP)," he said.
Israel's Foreign Ministry welcomed the decision in an English-language social media post. "Israel welcomes Finland's decision to end its multi-year funding to UNRWA," the ministry wrote. "Good to see more countries recognizing the undeniable truth, in light of the conclusive evidence of UNRWA employees' involvement in the October 7 massacre and UNRWA's inseparable ties to Hamas."
The Israeli statement concluded with a sharp assessment: "UNRWA is a hub for terror. It is part of the problem, not part of the solution."
