Finland rejects bid to end arms trade with Israel; cites security, defense concerns

Finland has rejected a citizen-backed initiative calling for an end to military trade with Israel. Under Finland’s system, private individuals can bring proposals to parliament if they gather at least 50,000 signatures. The initiative, which was debated on April 24, was voted down by 140 lawmakers, with only 20 in support. It received backing primarily from left-wing members of the Left Alliance and the Greens.

The citizens behind the initiative called on Finland to apply stricter “humanitarian considerations” in its arms trade with Israel, in response to international criticism of Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war. They urged greater emphasis on “international law” and “human rights” in such decisions.

Critics of the proposal argued that it did not take into account the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel or the broader security context cited by Israeli officials, including concerns about Hamas terrorists systematically embedded themselves among civilians in Gaza, a war crime under international law.

The Finnish Parliament’s Defense Committee dismissed the initiative and assessed that there was no need for policy change concerning trade with Israel and argued that considerations were already taken into account when procuring arms from Israel. In addition, the committee warned that ending military trade with Israel could undermine Finland’s operational defense capabilities.

Finland is holding new elections in 2027. It is currently unclear how the composition of the next Finnish Parliament would impact future arms trade with Israel.

Finland, which shares a long border with Russia, joined the Western defense alliance NATO in April 2023 amid Moscow’s war against Ukraine. The Nordic country announced the day after becoming a NATO member that it would acquire the Israeli-made David’s Sling anti-missile system to strengthen its aerial defense capabilities against potential Russian missiles.

“The David’s Sling system will extend the operational range of Finland’s ground-based air defense capabilities significantly,” Finland’s government said in an official statement at the time.

“This acquisition will create a new capability for the Finnish Defence Forces to intercept targets at high altitude," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen explained. "At the same time, we are continuing the ambitious and long-term development of Finland’s defense capability in a new security environment.”

Finland, like Denmark, has generally pursued closer relations with Israel and has been viewed as more attentive to Israel’s security concerns compared to neighboring Norway and Sweden, which have been more openly critical of Israeli policy.

In 2014, Sweden became the first European Union member state to formally recognize a “State of Palestine.” In 2024, Norway also moved to recognize a Palestinian state, a decision Israel criticized as effectively rewarding Hamas in the wake of the Hamas attack.

By contrast, Finland announced in 2025 that it would delay its recognition of a Palestinian state.

“The government is not currently preparing to recognize Palestine,” the Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated last August, at a time when France, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia were in the process of recognizing “Palestine.” 

Orpo clarified at the time that his party supports the two-state solution, adding that “when the logical time will come,” Finland would consider supporting the Palestinian Authority’s declared aspirations for statehood.

Due to its geographic position adjacent to Russia, Finland has invested more in its defense than many other European countries. In September 2025, the Finnish Navy deployed the Israeli-made Gabriel-5 anti-ship missile in combat roles.