Finnish diplomats urge foreign minister to reconsider Finland’s stance on Gaza conflict

In an unprecedented move, 79 employees of the Finnish Foreign Ministry have collectively expressed their concerns over Finland's response to the ongoing conflict in Gaza through a letter addressed to Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. This gesture, a rarity in Finnish diplomatic circles, underscores a growing unease within the ministry regarding the nation’s Middle East policy.

The letter, which surfaced in public domain following a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle, strongly urges Finland to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, Helsinki Times says.

The diplomats criticise what they perceive as Israel's excessive use of force and potential violations of international law. This criticism is rooted in recent events where civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and schools in Gaza, have been targeted, raising serious humanitarian and legal concerns.

Foreign Minister Valtonen, a member of the National Coalition Party (NCP), responded to the letter by affirming the importance of discussing Finland's foreign policies. She emphasised that Finland's stance in the Middle East is built on the pillars of human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and equality. Valtonen also highlighted Finland's support for the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its ongoing efforts to gather evidence of potential war crimes in the region.

In a statement that indicates Finland's impartial stance, Valtonen declared the nation's readiness to condemn the perpetrators of crimes in the conflict, irrespective of their identity. She also reiterated Finland's consistent disapproval of Israel's activities in illegal settlements in the West Bank.

The letter's emergence coincides with Finland's changing voting patterns in the United Nations. In October, Finland abstained from voting on a U.N. resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, citing the lack of condemnation of attacks by Hamas, labeled as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States, but seen as freedom fighters by the rest of the world. However, in December, less than a month after receiving the letter, Finland voted in favour of a U.N. General Assembly resolution demanding an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The letter has sparked varied reactions. While some veteran diplomats view it as a brave and necessary step, others deem it inappropriate. The controversy extends to the political arena as well, with Finns Party MP Jani Mäkelä criticising the diplomats for overstepping their authority and suggesting those involved should consider resigning.

The situation highlights a generational divide within the ministry, with most signatories being younger employees. It also reflects a broader debate on the role of civil servants in shaping foreign policy, especially in matters as complex and sensitive as the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The Finnish government, particularly parties like the National Coalition, the Finns Party, and the Christian Democrats, have historically shown support for Israel's policies. This stance has occasionally clashed with calls for a more balanced approach towards Israel and Palestine, as voiced by the diplomats in their letter.

This development comes at a time when the conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with mounting civilian casualties already surpassing 20,000, half of them children, and widespread destruction. 

Below, Helsinki Times publishes the full translation of the letter which was delivered to Valtonen in Finnish:

”Dear Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen,

We thank you for your article published in Helsingin Sanomat on Saturday, November 18. We consider the message of the article about the need to protect civilians important. At the same time, we see that Finland should act more concretely towards this goal: by condemning Israel's violations of international law and demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. We share herewith a letter from 79 foreign administration employees on the subject. The letter is intended for internal exchange of views. We hope that we can continue the discussion during tomorrow's staff info or later.

Finland should condemn Israel's violations of international law and demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

The brutal attacks of the terrorist organization Hamas in Israel on October 7 shocked the whole world. Israel has the right to defend its civilian population, as do all nations. The hostages taken by Hamas must be released.

Military operations must comply with international humanitarian law under all circumstances, regardless of what triggered the conflict. War crimes do not justify war crimes. By November 10, the bombings by Israel in Gaza had killed an estimated 11,078 people, of which 4,506 were children and 3,027 were women. More children have already died than the average annual number of child deaths in conflicts worldwide. More UN workers have died during this time than in any other conflict ever before. The UN has repeatedly stated that there is no safe place for civilians in Gaza, not even in the south, to which Israel has urged Palestinians to move.

In its countermeasures in Gaza, Israel has clearly exceeded the limits of the principle of proportionality, targeting civilian infrastructure and buildings under special protection, such as hospitals and schools. These are likely violations of international law, even war crimes. Israel has a special responsibility to protect civilians in the areas it occupies.

Finland cannot forget its own long-standing demand for respect for the rule-based system. To do so would be directly contrary to our own interest.

The government program states that Finland promotes a rule-based world order. One of the focuses of Finland's foreign and security policy is to engage the global south in the rule-based order, democracy, and the promotion of human rights.

In addition to Hamas's terrorist attack and blatant violations of international law, such as taking hostages and using human shields, Finland must also condemn Israel's violations of international law and demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

So far, Finland has not condemned Israel's disproportionate use of force in Gaza. Regarding the UN resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza on October 27, Finland abstained from voting, even though many other EU countries and Norway voted in favor. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must be brought to an end, and those responsible for the conflict must be held accountable.

By consistently demanding respect for international law and condemning its clear violations, Finland can maintain its reputation as a defender of human rights, the UN Charter, and international law. More importantly, only in this way can Finland participate in maintaining the international rule-based system. It is also the foundation of our own security.”

The Finnish diplomats' letter is not just a call for a policy review but also a reminder of the moral and legal responsibilities that nations bear on the international stage. As the situation evolves, Finland's response will be closely watched by the international community, singling not just its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict but also its commitment to human rights and international law.