UN Youth of Finland’s Statement on the Urgent Need to Protect Human Rights in Palestine

The UN Youth of Finland follows with deep concern the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. We call on Finland and the European Union to take concrete action to protect Gaza and to achieve a just and sustainable peace.

Conflicts and the constant flow of negative news can feel overwhelming. We, however, have the privilege of choosing whether to follow what happens around the world or not. For many, these events are a harsh reality they did not choose. Israel’s actions in Gaza have caused not only immense human suffering but also significant damage to the environment and critical infrastructure (UNEP, 2024).

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 67,000 people have been killed and over 169,000 injured in the past two years (OCHA, 2025). Over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed while seeking humanitarian aid, and according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR(b), 2025), the Israeli military is responsible for the majority of these deaths. In August, a famine was declared in the Gaza Governorate (FRC, 2025), and Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City (Ng & Comerford, 2025). Amidst all this human suffering, neither the region’s animals nor its nature have been spared from destruction (Euro-Med HRM, 2025).

In September, the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry announced that it had found Israel to be  responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza (UN News, 2025). In addition, the UN Special Committee already stated in November 2024 that Israel’s warfare in Gaza is consistent with the characteristics of genocide (OHCHR(c), 2024). Moreover, the events of recent years have been preceded by Israel’s decades-long occupation, which the International Court of Justice has deemed unlawful (Berg, 2024). On October 10, a ceasefire agreement came into effect, allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, leading to the release of hostages, and resulting in Israel’s partial withdrawal from previously occupied areas (Bennett, 2025). Currently, five food distribution points are open, through which the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered humanitarian aid to Gaza. This is not sufficient, and according to the WFP, 145 distribution points would be needed to ensure adequate aid delivery (UN News (b), 2025). The ceasefire does not directly lead to the end of the war or the resolution of the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Nevertheless, the achieved ceasefire agreement and the exchange of prisoners offer hope for the future (Joukanen, 2025). The progress of the peace plan faces challenges, and both parties accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement (The Guardian, 2025).

Violations of international law have occurred in Gaza that Finland and the EU can no longer ignore. Failure to act not only abandons the civilian population of Gaza but also gravely undermines the credibility of both Finland and the EU as defenders of human rights and the rules-based international order. Finland is committed to complying with the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, but has so far not acted forcefully enough to pressure Israel and to prevent the genocide.

In this statement, the UN Youth of Finland calls on Finland to recognize the State of Palestine, end arms trade with Israel, and take concrete measures to build lasting peace between Israel and Palestine (OHCHR(a), 2024). Furthermore, we call for broad international sanctions against Israel until it fully ends the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. We also demand that those responsible for violations of international law be held accountable.

 

The UN Youth of Finland demands concrete action from Finland:

1. Recognition of the State of Palestine

Finland has not recognized the State of Palestine, unlike, for example, Norway, Sweden, and the majority of UN member states. Of the 193 UN countries, currently more than three-quarters have recognized Palestine, and during the UN General Assembly High-Level Week, Palestine was recognized by, among others, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal (Le Monde, 2025). Recognition would be important now that a ceasefire is in effect. It would not only be a symbolic act but also a concrete step toward achieving a just peace and advancing the two-state solution. Finland has already decided to join the UN’s Palestine declaration, which states that the only path to lasting peace is the two-state solution (Kavander, 2025). Therefore, Finland should now move forward toward the goal set out in that declaration and recognize Palestine as soon as possible.

 

2. Weapons imports and indirect arms exports must to be stopped

Finland must stop its import of weapons from Israel and take action to prevent the indirect export of arms and military industry products to Israel. Israel has used weapons produced by the Norwegian-Finnish Nammo Group in Gaza. Nammo is jointly owned by Patria, which is in turn partly state-owned by Finland. (Huttunen & Rautaheimo, 2025). Through Patria, Finland must ensure that no weapons end up being used by Israel and thereby become complicit in war crimes.

In addition, there is also direct arms trade between Finland and Israel in the form of imports to Finland (Pennanen, 2024). Finland is among the EU countries that purchase the most weapons from Israel (Juhola & Rissanen, 2025). The Israeli arms industry and its support cannot be separated from the war crimes committed by the state of Israel. Israel’s arms exports have reached record levels since the war in Gaza began, and weapons tested in war are often seen as attractive purchases (Juhola & Rissanen, 2025). Finland’s expensive arms purchases contribute to the development of Israel’s military industry involved in war crimes and further increase Finland’s military dependence on Israel. Finland must reform its arms trade to be ethical and respectful of human rights.

 

3. Finland must pressure Israel to end its war crimes and support the building of lasting peace

Merely verbally condemning actions and plans has not been enough to stop the perpetration of Israel’s war crimes, which is why Finland should make use of other means of pressure. The ceasefire agreement gives Finland an opportunity to act more decisively now to secure peace, condemn Israel’s war crimes, and protect Palestinian civilians.

An Association Agreement between the EU and Israel (1995/2000) grants Israel, among other things, trade preferences within the EU. The agreement is particularly significant for Israel because the EU is its largest trading partner (European Commission, n.d.). The Association Agreement (1995/2000) also includes a requirement to respect human rights and democratic principles. As Israel continues its war crimes in Gaza, violates human rights and illegally occupies Palestinian territories, Finland should push for the suspension of the Association Agreement. In addition, the economic and financial barriers imposed on Palestinian institutions (Politico, 2025) must be removed.

The humanitarian disaster in Gaza must come to an end. Finland and the EU must remain consistent defenders of human rights and international law, and act actively as peacebuilders, ensuring the protection of civilians and holding accountable those entities responsible for war crimes or crimes against humanity. “Nobody is free until everyone is free.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

 

Sources: 

Bennett, Tom. 13.10.2025. BBC. What happens next in Gaza ceasefire plan after hostage release? https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgqx7ygq41o

Berg, Raffi. 19.7.2024. BBC. UN top court says Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjerjzxlpvdo

EU–Israel assosiaatiosopimus, allekirjoitettu 20.11.1995, voimaan 1.6.2000, EUVL L 147, 21.6.2000. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/FI/TXT/?uri=celex%3A22000A0621%2801%29

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor. 3.8.2025. 97 per cent of Gaza’s animal wealth destroyed by Israeli bombing, starvation, and looting. https://euromedmonitor.org/en/article/6811/97-per-cent-of-Gaza

Euroopan komissio. N.d. Israel. EU trade relations with Israel. Facts, figures and latest developments. https://policy.trade.ec.europa.eu/eu-trade-relationships-country-and-region/countries-and-regions/israel_en

Huttunen, Anni & Rautaheimo, Kaisa. 12.7.2025. Suomalais-norjalaisen yrityksen aseita löytyi Gazasta. Helsingin Sanomat. https://www.hs.fi/maailma/art-2000011156845.html

IPC Global Famine Review Committee. 22.8.2025. Famine Review Committee: Gaza Strip, August 2025. https://www.ipcinfo.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ipcinfo/docs/IPC_Famine_Review_Committee_Report_Gaza_Aug2025.pdf

Joukanen, Toni. 13.10.2025. Yle.fi.  Asiantuntijat toppuuttelevat Trumpin osuutta suurena rauhantekijänä vielä ennenaikaisena – ”Gaza on täynnä aseita” https://yle.fi/a/74-20188176

Juhola, Teemu & Rissanen, Juha. 18.9.2025. Yle. Suomen asetoimitukset Israelista nousevat EU-maiden kärkisijoille. https://yle.fi/a/74-20181124

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OHCHR.(b) 31.7.2025. Killings of Palestinians seeking food in Gaza continue as starvation deepens. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/killings-palestinians-seeking-food-gaza-continue-starvation-deepens-enar

OHCHR.(c) 14.11.2025. UN Special Committee finds Israel’s warfare methods in Gaza consistent with genocide, including use of starvation as weapon of war. https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/11/un-special-committee-finds-israels-warfare-methods-gaza-consistent-genocide

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