Nordic Nations Clarify Stance on UNRWA Financial Support
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Sweden and Norway on UNRWA Funding |
While Norway declared its continued support for the UN agency, Sweden's Minister for Relief and Works Benjamin Dosa stated on Friday that his nation will not fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and will instead use other means to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
In a statement to the media, Minister Dosa clarified that Sweden's decision to stop funding UNRWA was a result of the Israeli restriction, which will make it more challenging to deliver help to the Palestinians through the UN agency.
The Swedish official went on to say, "There are a number of other organizations in Gaza... I have met a number of them," referring to the UN World Food Program as one possible aid recipient.
In a statement to the media, Minister Dosa clarified that Sweden's decision to stop funding UNRWA was a result of the Israeli restriction, which will make it more challenging to deliver help to the Palestinians through the UN agency.
After the Israeli Knesset recently approved two bills that forbid UNRWA from operating in Israel, sources in the Norwegian Foreign Ministry told Al Jazeera that Norway will continue to support the organization despite the possibility that this ban will result in less aid being distributed in the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the ongoing Israeli war.
In a statement last month, the UN General Assembly urged Israel to uphold UNRWA's mission and "enable its operations to continue without hindrance or restrictions."
In anticipation of a reduction in aid distribution in the Gaza Strip, which has been ravaged by the ongoing Israeli assault, the Israeli Knesset recently passed two legislation prohibiting UNRWA from working in Israel.
Israel has repeatedly accused UNRWA staff of being involved in the October 7 Al-Aqsa Flood operation, which was carried out by the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip against Israel. The agency has denied these claims, but Israel has banned UNRWA operations in the country beginning in late January.
Following the Israeli accusation, more donor nations chose to halt their funding to the agency; however, some later changed their minds. Meanwhile, the United Nations declared that its investigators investigating the Israeli claims had closed the case file because Israel had not produced any evidence to back up its claims.
Given the continuous worldwide warnings of an impending famine, the financing shortfall of around $450 million caused by these nations' suspension of funding to UNRWA—of which there were roughly 16—posed a threat to the organization's ability to provide the aid that the Gaza Strip needs.
Early in November of last year, the Israeli Foreign Ministry also declared that it had formally notified the UN of its decision to revoke the agreement it had reached with UNRWA, which permits the organization to operate and offer assistance in Palestine.
Before the UN General Assembly, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini had issued a warning that Israel's proposal to dismantle UNRWA would "sow the seeds" of future conflicts and sacrifice "an entire generation of children."
In addition to accusing Tel Aviv of torturing many of its staff members who were detained by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, UNRWA has frequently charged Israel for limiting its operations and targeting its offices and schools in Gaza.
In the midst of a humanitarian crisis characterized as catastrophic and a deepening famine looming over this encircled Strip, Israel has been waging war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, leaving tens of thousands of martyrs, wounded, and missing.