Finland Cuts UNRWA Funding Amid Hamas Ties Probe

Another European country has pulled its money from the U.N. group helping Palestinians. Finland joins the United States and Sweden in cutting off donations to an agency now marked by terror ties.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, faces a fresh probe over links to Hamas leaders in Gaza. Groups like the USAID Office of Inspector General and the NGO UN Watch have found more proof they say shows Hamas inside UNRWA. They point to staff members who allegedly took part in the October 7 attacks on southern Israel.

Finland said it would stop funding by the end of 2026. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs told Fox News Digital the current deal ends then, but no word yet exists on how Finland will channel support next year for urgent regional needs. Officials did not answer questions about what drove this shift in funding policy.

While some nations still pay into UNRWA, President Donald Trump issued a full ban on U.S. money back in February 2025. Sweden stopped its contributions in December 2024 and moved that aid to other U.N. bodies for Gaza relief work. The future of help reaching Gazans matters greatly to the Board of Peace backed by the Trump administration as it tries to build a conflict-free future for the area.

A person connected to the Board of Peace reconstruction effort told Fox News Digital the worry among international partners about UNRWA in Gaza keeps growing, and they back it with strong evidence. The board has made its stance clear: New Gaza must be demilitarized and deradicalized. They will only work with trusted delivery partners to reach their goals. Expect them to swap out UNRWA for vetted groups that actually deliver for the people of Gaza.

The USAID OIG is looking into roughly 1,500 UNRWA members for terror involvement. They have referred 108 staff to the State Department with a suggestion they be suspended or barred from future work on projects using U.S. funds. A senior U.S. official briefed on the probe told Fox News Digital that these independent findings are pushing several countries to rethink the idea that UNRWA is the only option for civilian aid in Gaza. The findings also aim to stop Hamas and October 7-linked staff from moving between future, more responsible aid groups operating there.

UN Watch's Terror Network report claims about 12 percent of UNRWA workers in Gaza belong to terror organizations. This number comes from cross-checking employee rosters against Hamas records seized by the Israel Defense Forces. Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch, told Fox News Digital that Finland's choice to defund this terror-infested agency will not leave Palestinians without aid. That support will go through genuine humanitarian groups like the World Food Programme, which are not systemically infiltrated by Hamas.

He added other democracies should follow Finland, Sweden, and the U.S.'s lead. Contrary to what UNRWA supporters say, the agency is not indispensable. Assistance can and must come through responsible alternatives. Stéphane Dujarric, spokesperson for the U.N., has weighed in on these developments as well.

Secretary-General António Guterres spoke to Fox News Digital about the latest developments regarding UNRWA. He stated that the agency has acknowledged Finland's recent move and expressed gratitude for the release of funds covering 2023 through 2026 under their multi-year pact. The Secretary-General added that UNRWA anticipates keeping talks going with the government on this matter. Guterres also made it clear that he keeps urging member states to back what he calls vital work within the organization.

Money from Finland for four years totaled roughly $23.23 billion, though reports suggest this figure refers to a specific tranche rather than total historical aid. That funding stream is set to stop after the current year concludes. When journalists at Fox News Digital asked UNRWA officials directly about Finland's choice to pull back, the agency did not issue a response.

Neuer weighed in with a sharp assessment of the situation. He argued that cutting off money for UNRWA is a necessary condition for deradicalization and marks the opening move in any real Gaza peace plan. According to him, tearing down this agency does not hurt peace chances at all; instead, it is essential for making them happen. For decades, he claims the group has kept the conflict alive by teaching generations of Palestinians that their destiny lies outside their own society. He insists their future should focus on building a home rather than clinging to a so-called right of return that would erase Israel.

Neuer wrapped up his remarks by pointing to investigations from USAID OIG and UN Watch as proof that the agency cannot be fixed. He believes nations truly seeking peace must stop financing what he describes as a machine of hate. Instead, these countries should pour resources into humanitarian relief, deradicalization efforts, and Palestinian self-reliance. Is there anyone left who thinks maintaining the status quo helps anyone? The facts seem to point toward a clear path forward if leaders have the courage to act.