Financial support for UNRWA delayed

Bjarni Benediktsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, decided on Friday to delay the disbursement of Iceland’s annual core contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) following reports of allegations of the involvement of twelve UNRWA employees in the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. The decision to delay the disbursement was made to enable necessary consultations with key partners and to seek further clarifications from UNRWA. 

According to a framework agreement signed with UNRWA in September 2023 for the period 2024-2028, Iceland's annual core contribution to UNRWA is ISK 110 million per year. The agreement stipulates that the contribution should be paid in the first quarter of each calendar year. It is not excluded that the disbursement will be made within this timeframe, despite the delay.