MEP Maria Guzenina criticizes government’s Gaza policy

Member of the European Parliament Maria Guzenina has criticized the Finnish government’s weak statements on Gaza. She argues that recognizing Palestine would be a significant message from Finland.

“From a Brussels perspective, Finland’s leadership has been passive in responding to the war in Gaza – except for statements made by Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen. SDP chair Antti Lindtman is absolutely right to demand that the government submit a proposal to Parliament to recognize the State of Palestine,” Guzenina says.

“The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached an unbearable scale. The situation for children in particular is appalling—they are dying from hunger, bombings, and untreated injuries. The EU must demand that Israel immediately open humanitarian corridors to Gaza and ensure unrestricted delivery of aid,” she continues.

Estimates suggest that over 54,000 people, the vast majority women and children, have died since the war began in October 2023. According to the UN, Gaza is currently the hungriest place on Earth, as Israel’s blockade continues and food aid remains critically insufficient.

“This is a humanitarian catastrophe. The shocking actions of Israel’s right-wing government in Gaza are completely at odds with international law. Nothing justifies the collective punishment of a civilian population,” Guzenina states.

“Recognition of Palestine by Finland would send a clear political message: we support the two-state solution and the peace process—not the killing of civilians,” she emphasizes.

The EU is launching a review of its Association Agreement with Israel, focusing on whether Israel has violated the agreement’s human rights clause.

“The EU is Israel’s largest trading partner. If the agreement’s conditions are violated, there must be real consequences. My own Social Democratic group in the European Parliament has already called for the termination of the entire Association Agreement,” Guzenina says.