Sweden announced on Friday it will stop funding the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and redirect aid to Gaza through other channels.
The Swedish government plans to increase its overall humanitarian assistance to the region, Reuters reported.
The decision comes as Israel prepares to ban UNRWA operations in its territory, effective in late January 2024, following accusations that the agency was involved in the October 7 Hamas-led attacks, which escalated the war in Gaza.
“Large parts of UNRWA’s operations in Gaza are either going to be severely weakened or completely impossible,” Swedish official Erik Dousa told Reuters. “For the government, the most important thing is that support gets through.”
While Sweden opposes Israel’s new law, it acknowledged the restrictions would hinder aid distribution via UNRWA. Dousa affirmed that Sweden does not support the legislation and has urged Israel to improve humanitarian access to Gaza.
Despite cutting ties with UNRWA, Sweden plans to allocate 800 million Swedish crowns ($72 million) in humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2024, up from 451 million crowns ($40.6 million) in 2023. The funds will be channeled through organizations such as the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Palestinian embassy in Stockholm condemned the decision, highlighting UNRWA’s unique role in providing healthcare, education, and emergency relief to Palestinian refugees.
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned that defunding the agency jeopardizes decades of investment in human development, including education for hundreds of thousands of children.
In contrast, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel welcomed Sweden’s decision. “There are worthy and viable alternatives for humanitarian aid, and I appreciate the willingness to listen and adopt a different approach,” Haskel said.
The U.N. recently reported that nine UNRWA staff members were dismissed over alleged involvement in the October 7 attack. Separately, a Hamas commander in Lebanon, later killed by Israel, was found to have been employed by UNRWA.