Prime Minister Petteri Orpo (NCP) insists that the entire government backs Finland’s official stance on Gaza. However, it remains unclear whether two of the four governing parties, the Finns Party and the Christian Democrats, are actually onboard.
"The position of the government and Finland is completely clear, and there is nothing ambiguous about it. The situation in Israel and the Gaza Strip is catastrophic. Humanitarian aid must be allowed into Gaza immediately. People need help. An immediate ceasefire, the hostages must be released, and peace negotiations to achieve a lasting solution must begin with the goal of a two-state solution," Orpo told reporters on Wednesday.
The premier commented on the debate over Finland’s position on Gaza during a visit to the Rauma shipyard, where a Navy ship was being launched.
Stubb: Displacement is a war crime
His comments echoed those made by on Monday by President Alexander Stubb, a former NCP leader.
"The suffering of civilians in Gaza must end. Finland calls on Israel…to ensure access [to] humanitarian aid," he wrote on X, adding that "forced displacement of populations is a war crime". The president also called on Hamas to release hostages while saying that "Israel's security must be guaranteed".
Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) also condemned Israel on Tuesday, and a day later said that Finland supports in principle the idea of imposing sanctions against Israeli ministers.
She was reacting to a Swedish proposal that the EU could impose sanctions against some Israeli government ministers over Israel’s treatment of civilian Palestinians in Gaza.
"I think it is really important that we see what can be done within the framework of the sanctions regime. We have initially supported the fact that all these statements by ministers, some of which are really chilling, are investigated and it is seen whether the sanctions regime would be the right way to intervene. That we support it in principle," Valtonen told the Finnish news agency STT on Wednesday.
Stance of Finns Party and Christian Democrats hazy
However, Jani Mäkelä, the chair of the Finns Party parliamentary group, told the STT that he does not fully endorse the position of the state leadership.
"The information available from [the region] is quite fragmented and can be biased," he said. "I would not use this information to dramatise it and seek a larger role for Finland, but would rather see how things progress," Mäkelä told STT.
On Wednesday, the tabloid Iltalehti reported that the leader of the Christian Democrats and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Sari Essayah, refused to answer when asked whether she approved the stance on Israel taken by Stubb, Orpo and Valtonen, and has not responded to interview requests.
The Christian Democrats have traditionally been staunchly pro-Israel and have opposed recognition of Palestinian statehood – which the chair of the fourth government party, Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz (SPP) called for on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Valtonen indicated that Finland is in no hurry to formally recognise Palestine as an independent state, unlike its immediate Nordic neighbours.
