UK, Finland suspend funding for UN agency over Israeli allegations

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Britain and Finland have joined other countries in pausing funding to a UN agency that provides humanitarian aid to Palestinians following allegations of involvement by some of its employees in the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

Following the US, Italy, Australia, and Canada, the UK and Finland have also decided to suspend funding to the UN Agency for Palestinian refugees or UNRWA, after claims that some its members were involved in Hamas' attack on Israel.

After the Israeli allegations, the agency on Friday said that it had terminated contracts with several of its staff over their alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Citing the UK Foreign Office, local media reported on Saturday that Britain is "temporarily pausing any future funding of UNRWA whilst we review these concerning allegations."

Saying it was "appalled" by the claims, it added: "We remain committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it."

Finnish Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio said on Saturday that Finland's payments to the agency will be suspended due to the allegations.

"The case must be investigated thoroughly," he said.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack by Hamas which Tel Aviv said killed 1,200 people.

At least 26,083 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 64,487 injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.​​​​​​​

The Israeli offensive has left 85% of Gaza’s population internally displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure was damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.