Finland has been suspended Payments to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) pursuant to a decision of the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio of the Finnish Party. The decision came in the wake of allegations that UNRWA staff may have been involved in Hamas’s October terrorist attack on Israel.
These accusations are serious and concerning and must be thoroughly and fairly investigated. A positive sign is that the EU also wants to participate in the investigation.
However, it must be kept in mind that UNRWA is not an ordinary aid organization and the situation is far from ordinary. UNRWA is the main provider of basic services and critical humanitarian aid to the Gazan people, and Gaza is currently at war. Even before the outbreak of hostilities, many Palestinians relied solely on UN assistance.Gaza’s infrastructure has already collapsed, the health system has been nearly destroyed, and the survival of thousands of people is at risk.” Razmyar.
UNRWA said it must cease operations in Gaza by the end of February if its funding is cut. Several States parties have stressed that no other organization can replace UNRWA, especially within this time limit.
Based on publicly available information, I believe this decision is overreaching and hasty. The European Commission also stressed that funding decisions must take into account both the seriousness of the allegations and the continuity of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people. Other Nordic countries have not suspended funding but are investigating the situation. In such cases, I would like to see more careful consideration,” Razmir says.
She sees a broader pattern repeating itself in Western Middle East policy. Decisions regarding Gaza are taken very quickly, whereas decisions regarding Israel are taken more slowly and with great deliberation and caution. There is a danger that Gaza’s children will become a generation that harbors grudges against Israel and the West.
In Razmir’s view, the words and actions of Finland’s foreign policy leaders are inconsistent.
“Only a week ago, EU foreign ministers called for a ceasefire in Gaza, discussed protecting civilians and respecting international law, and a week later cut critical humanitarian aid to Gaza. How could that be? It inevitably gives the impression that Finnish Party ministers make important foreign policy decisions for domestic political reasons, with the rest of the government tacitly acquiescing.”Razmir He wonders.
HT