Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sayyed Ali Khamenei: The model Trump is presenting to Arab countries is absolutely a failed one
The leader of the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran Sayyed Ali Khamenei: Trump's remarks source of shame, embarrassment for him, Americans
Al-Zaidi to Al Mayadeen: There is a pressing need to restructure the regional landscape, a challenge facing the Baghdad Summit, and we hope it will succeed in doing so
Al-Zaidi to Al Mayadeen: Among the urgent issues on the summit’s agenda are ending the war in Palestine and addressing the complex situation in Syria
Al-Zaidi to Al Mayadeen: We hope the summit will yield reasoned solutions that serve the interests of regional stability
Al-Zaidi to Al Mayadeen: We hope that the summit will be an opportunity to achieve the long-awaited breakthrough in all regional issues
Iraqi presidential spokesperson Abdullah al-Zaidi to Al Mayadeen: The significance of the summit stems from the critical timing under which it is being convened
Yemeni Ministry of Health: The Zionist aggression on the ports of Hodeidah and Salif in western Yemen has killed one and injured 11
Yemenia Airways flights to and from Sanaa International Airport resumed, following the return of 134 passengers from Queen Alia Airport in Jordan
Russia's Putin invites league of Arab states, secretary general to take part in 1st Russian-Arab summit in October: Kremlin

Sweden announces end to UNRWA funding

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 20 Dec 2024 15:07
3 Min Read

The move follows a new Israeli law banning UNRWA operations, further complicating efforts to assist families in Gaza who are battling famine amid a brutal Israeli aggression that has continued for over two months.

Listen
  • x
  • A faclility of the UNRWA is pictured in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on Jnauray 30,2024. (AFP)
    A facility of the UNRWA is pictured in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank on January 30,2024. (AFP)

Sweden has announced it will no longer provide funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Instead, the Nordic nation will channel humanitarian aid to Gaza through alternative organizations, according to Aid Minister Benjamin Dousa, who spoke with Swedish broadcaster TV4 on Friday.

The decision comes after "Israel" passed a law in late October prohibiting the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA) from working in "Israel", further hindering its efforts to aid the Palestinians in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Dousa claimed that the Israeli ban would complicate Sweden's ability to deliver aid through UNRWA. "There are several other organizations in Gaza; I have just been there and met several of them," he said, citing the UN World Food Programme as a potential partner.

He further said that Sweden intends to increase its overall humanitarian assistance to Gaza in the coming year.

Earlier today, a senior United Nations (UN) official lambasted "Israel" for blocking off aid from the Gaza Strip, saying that Israeli policies have forced humanitarians to make "horrible decisions."

In a virtual news conference, Georgios Petropoulos, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sub-office in Gaza, said, "Israeli authorities and military seem unwilling to open multiple access points at once," for humanitarian efforts into the Gaza Strip, which has impeded aid deliveries. 

Petropoulos pointed to multiple issues that have slowed down aid deliveries, including strict Israeli restrictions on items, looting of aid in Israeli-controlled areas, and limited access via Israeli checkpoints. 

Related News

NYT: Israeli officers admit Gaza is on brink of starvation

ICJ wraps hearings on 'Israel’s' obligations to facilitate aid to Gaza

He also explained that selective restrictions and denials of humanitarian aid to certain areas in the besieged territory indicate the "weaponization" of aid by Israeli authorities. He revealed that restrictions are being placed on the delivery of water and food to areas in the North governorate, while these same items are allowed in other areas. Petropoulos said that these denials by Israeli authorities show that aid is being used to "move" people, stressing that civilians have a right to choose where to be. 

UNGA adopts two draft resolutions for ceasefire in Gaza, backs UNRWA

Last week, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and supporting the United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which "Israel" has sought to abolish.

The votes in the 193-nation World Organization were 158-9, with 13 abstentions, to urge an immediate ceasefire, and 159-9, with 11 abstentions, in favor of the UNRWA agency. The voting followed two days of speeches that overwhelmingly called for an end to "Israel's" war on Gaza.

"Israel" and the US voted against the resolutions. 

While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, General Assembly resolutions are not, despite representing global opinion. There are no vetoes in this parliament.

The resolution urges "an immediate, unconditional, and permanent ceasefire" and also calls for "the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages." 

Although non-binding, the resolution further demands "immediate access" to extensive humanitarian aid for Gaza's population, particularly in the heavily blockaded northern region.

Read next: UNRWA funding suspension 'catastrophic' for Gaza: Heads of UN agencies
 

  • UNRWA
  • Israeli aggression
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • UNRWA funding
  • Sweden

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza
MENA

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump administration planning to send 1 million Palestinians to Libya

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' concerned, says US withholding info about indirect Iran talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual ceremony at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in occupied al-Quds on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu cancels Vatican visit over fears of ICC arrest

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS