Nasima Razmyar. Photo: Jukka-Pekka Flander / SDP
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Nasima Razmyar, Vice-Chair of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Member of Parliament, has sharply criticized Finland’s handling of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, accusing the government of empty rhetoric without meaningful action. Her comments come as international leaders intensify calls for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid to the war-torn region.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 40,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, with a significant portion of the casualties being civilians, including children.
Razmyar expressed deep frustration over the growing death toll and the international community’s perceived indifference.
“The endless toll of the Gaza war is difficult to put into words. We become desensitized to the constant headlines, which only breeds cynicism. The human suffering, the famine, the ashes of bombed cities—these are hard to describe because they have been ever-present throughout the war,” Razmyar said. She noted that despite the International Court of Justice (ICJ) calling for Israel to cease its attack on Rafah and declaring the occupation of Palestinian territories illegal, the conflict rages on without any sign of abatement.
Razmyar also pointed to recent statements from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who collectively urged for an immediate ceasefire and stressed the urgency of delivering aid to Gaza. “The entire international community is finally beginning to understand the magnitude of this catastrophe. Opposition to the Gaza war has moved beyond news columns and comment sections. Protests now reach cultural events, university campuses, and even businesses,” she said.
The SDP vice-chair did not hold back in her criticism of Finland’s own response. She condemned the Finnish government for abstaining from a United Nations General Assembly resolution that called for a ceasefire and for freezing support to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). “Since then, Finland has done little more than express a vague hope for the end of the war, without taking any concrete steps to bring about peace or hold the parties accountable. Finland could play a larger role in foreign policy by clearly stating its stance and setting limits on the acceptance of war, as countries like Norway, Spain, and Ireland have done,” Razmyar argued.
She also highlighted the need for political action to back up Finland’s rhetoric, referring to comments made by former National Coalition Party MP and current MEP Aura Salla. “As Salla pointed out yesterday, it’s hypocritical for the Finnish government to engage in arms trade with a state committing genocide. The Finnish government should advocate for trade sanctions against Israel. The horrific nature of the nearly year-long war has become all too clear, and the government can no longer hide behind the excuse of observing the situation.”
Razmyar concluded by questioning the credibility of Finland’s recent statements supporting the end of the war and the protection of civilians. “Is this the legacy of human rights and foreign policy that the National Coalition Party wants to leave behind? They hold a full hand in Finland’s foreign policy. If the nature of the war is concerning, then political power must be used to end it. So far, the government’s actions towards ending the war have been far from convincing,” she stated.
Razmyar’s remarks add to growing pressure on the Finnish government to take a more assertive stance in international efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
