Finland in Israel

Thank you Herzliya Mayor @FisherYariv for hosting my colleagues and me at Nina Community Center, where we witnessed first-hand the municipality's impressive provision of social & sports activities. Inspiring to see the city strengthen community resilience during times of crisis.

Yesterday, Amb Nina Nordström visited with a delegation Beit Shemesh, where, an Iranian warhead hit a synagogue, killing 9 civilians. It has been so far the deadliest beside the hits, incl. by cluster munitions, to the central cities of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Givatayim.

Together with my colleagues, today we visited the site of an Iranian missile impact in Beit Shemesh, where 9 Israeli civilians were killed. We witnessed sobering and depressing scenes, but also the resilience of the local community. Thank you Amb @stefaanthijs for arranging this!

I had a valuable phone conversation with the President of Israel @Isaac_Herzog. We exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and also discussed Ukraine.

Vi förde ett nyttigt telefonsamtal med Israels president @Isaac_Herzog . Vi utbytte åsikter om det oroväckande säkerhetsläget i Mellanöstern och talade också om Ukraina.

Kävimme hyödyllisen keskustelun Israelin presidentti @Isaac_Herzog kanssa puhelimessa. Vaihdoimme näkemyksiä Lähi-idän huolestuttavasta turvallisuustilanteesta ja puhuimme myös Ukrainasta.

Tietoa suomalaisille matkailijoille Lähi-idän alueella löytyy UM:n verkkosivuilta. Päivitämme sivua tilanteen kehittyessä. Seuraa myös alueen edustustoja: @FinlandEmbUAE @FinlandinQatar @FinIsrael um.fi ⬇️ um.fi/ajankohtaista/…

Information för finländska resenärer i Mellanöstern finns på UM:s webbplats. Vi uppdaterar sidan i takt med att situationen utvecklas. Följ också regionens beskickningar: @FinlandEmbUAE @FinlandinQatar @FinIsrael um.fi ⬇️ um.fi/aktuellt/-/ass…

The situation in the Middle East continues to spiral. Finland condemns Iran’s unjustifiable and indiscriminate strikes on the countries in the region. Even those who were working towards a diplomatic solution are now being targeted. The strikes must stop. Civilian lives must be protected across the region.

Ulkoministeriön päärakennus Merikasarmi valaistaan tänään Ukrainan lipun värein. Today, Merikasarmi, the main building of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, will be lit in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. #StandWithUkraine 🇫🇮 🇺🇦

Finland together with 20 parties condemns in strongest terms recent Israeli decisions introducing sweeping extensions to its unlawful control over the West Bank, accelerating illegal settlements and deepening Israeli administration. We oppose any form of annexation.

It was a pleasure to meet @VilleTavio, Minister for Trade and Development, for a wide-ranging and constructive discussion on deepening our cooperation and strengthening our partnership. The wonderful crisp winter day in Helsinki added a special touch to our meeting. 🇮🇱🇫🇮

It was a pleasure to meet with the President of Israel, Isaac Herzog. We discussed a broad range of issues, including the strong bilateral relations, active dialogue, and longstanding economic cooperation between Finland and Israel. I welcomed the second phase of the Peace Plan which will hopefully pave the way for stability in the area.

An important meeting with Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar in Jerusalem today. We discussed our bilateral relations based on decades of exchanges at all levels, from decision-makers to citizens. We also discussed regional security, Gaza and the West Bank. I emphasized the urgent needs of the civilian population in Gaza and the importance of unhindered access of humanitarian aid. I reaffirmed Finland's support for regional stability and securing a path towards the two-state solution.

Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs @elinavaltonen will visit Israel and the Occupied the Palestinian territory on 15–16 February. Press release ⬇️ um.fi/current-affair…

The opening of the Rafah crossing marks a concrete and positive step in the peace plan. The EU’s civilian mission is on the ground to monitor crossing operations and support Palestinian border guards. For Gaza’s sick and wounded, the reopening is a lifeline. It will allow families to reunite after far too long apart. Practical steps like this help move the truce plan forward and must continue. At the same time, Gaza remains in urgent need of aid. Its reconstruction will depend on Hamas' demilitarization.

I applaud the bravery and strength of the Iranian people in their demands for a free, dignified, and prosperous future. The Iranian authorities — responsible for the killing of thousands of their own citizens and the brutal repression of society — deserve zero sympathy and must be held accountable. Finland supports the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the European list of terrorist organisations. Today, I will inform my EU colleagues of our decision at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

Yesterday, the remains of the final hostage held in Gaza, Ran Gvili, were returned more than two years after Hamas’s 7 October attack. We hope this brings some measure of closure for his family, and for everyone who has shared this long and painful wait. As this moment opens the way for the next phase of the Gaza Peace Plan, we look ahead with the hope that progress on the ground will lead to greater stability, dignity and a more secure, peaceful future for all.

So relieved that the remains of Israeli hero Ran Gvili were finally found and that he'll receive a dignified burial in his homeland. His mother Talik told me when I visited recently that Rani was known as the first to leave and the last to come back. May his memory be a blessing