Majority of Finns call for sanctions and war crime charges against Israel

A recent survey commissioned by Fingo has revealed that more than 60% of Finns want to see Israeli leaders prosecuted for war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict. Additionally, 55% of respondents support imposing economic sanctions on Israel, u

By: helsinkitimes.fi

Oct 13 2024
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Majority of Finns call for san

A recent survey commissioned by Fingo has revealed that more than 60% of Finns want to see Israeli leaders prosecuted for war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict. Additionally, 55% of respondents support imposing economic sanctions on Israel, underscoring strong public support in Finland for action in defense of Palestinian human rights and international law.

"These findings show that Finnish people are firmly behind policies that support human rights and international law, particularly in relation to the Israel-Palestine conflict.

In fact, their support for these measures is comparatively strong on a European scale," said Johannes Hautaviita, Advocacy Communications Expert at Fingo.

Strong Support for War Crime Prosecutions

One of the key statements in the survey asked whether Israeli leaders should be prosecuted for war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict. Of those surveyed, 63% agreed, while only 19% disagreed. Another 17% were undecided. This aligns with ongoing global discussions as the International Criminal Court (ICC) has sought arrest warrants for leaders from both Hamas and Israel, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Majority Backs Economic Sanctions on Israel

The survey also asked Finns for their views on economic sanctions against Israel in response to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. Over half (55%) of respondents supported sanctions, while 28% were opposed.

In July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories, ongoing since 1967, violates international law. The court emphasized that Israel must withdraw from these areas as the occupation infringes on Palestinians' right to self-determination.

Growing Support for Recognizing Palestine

Nearly half of Finns (49%) believe Finland should immediately recognize the state of Palestine, while 31% oppose such immediate recognition. Currently, 145 countries, including Sweden, Norway, and Spain, have recognized Palestine as a state.

"The support for recognizing Palestine is relatively strong in Finland compared to other European nations. However, the issue remains divisive, possibly because this survey focused on the urgency of immediate recognition. Finland’s government has indicated that recognition will come, but at the right time. Some respondents may have interpreted their stance as opposing immediate recognition," Hautaviita explained.

Public Opinion Reflects Growing Concern Over Gaza Conflict

This survey follows another commissioned by Yle in April, which found that 60% of Finns disapproved of Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The latest findings aim to provide deeper insights into Finnish views on the Gaza conflict, economic sanctions, and Palestine’s recognition.

"We sought reliable new data on how Finns feel about the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. The overall conclusion is that Finns are ready to take stronger measures to defend human rights and international law in the Middle East," Hautaviita concluded.