Finnish President urges Israel to end Palestinian invasion

Finnish President Alexander Stubb condemned Israel’s prolonged invasion on Palestinian territories and called for it to end. In his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, he said the occupation, ongoing since 1967, amounts to a violation of international law and must stop immediately.

Delivering his address on Wednesday, September 25, Stubb described the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza as “unbearable”, urging an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted humanitarian aid access, and the release of hostages. He said: “Ordinary people in Gaza are suffering immensely. The humanitarian disaster reflects the failure of the international system.”

Emphasising adherence to international law, the Finnish President said: “Just as Russia has no right to its aggression in Ukraine, Israel has no right to violate international law in Palestine. No state has the right to wage proxy wars in countries like Sudan or Congo for economic or strategic interests.”

Stubb added that Israel and Palestine’s security must be ensured through negotiations, which requires respect for Palestinian statehood and sovereignty.

Calling for reform of the UN Security Council, he proposed increasing the number of permanent members by adding two seats for Asia, two for Africa, and one for Latin America. He also suggested suspending voting rights for any state that violates the UN Charter.

Citing UN investigators, Stubb said Israel’s assault on Gaza had reached the level of genocide. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, more than 65,000 people have been killed.