Helsinki Sees Demonstration for Gaza Victims and Palestinian State Recognition

Demonstration Held in Helsinki City Centre

On Sunday, September 28, 2025, several dozen people participated in a demonstration in Helsinki to mourn Palestinian victims and call for the formal recognition of a Palestinian state by the Finnish government. The protest, held at Narinkkatori, in front of the Kamppi shopping mall, expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people amidst ongoing conflict and humanitarian concerns in Gaza.

Organizers and Demands

The demonstration was organized by Äitikapina, the Finnish unit of the international Mothers' Rebellion, which is a sister organization of Extinction Rebellion (Elokapina in Finland). Participants, many dressed in black and red, gathered in the afternoon for a silent, orchestral protest. The Red Rebel Brigade (Veriprikaati), a performance art movement within Extinction Rebellion Finland, also staged slow and silent walks to draw attention to the situation in Gaza.

Key demands raised by the demonstrators included:

• Formal recognition of a Palestinian state by the Finnish government.
• Concrete action from the Finnish government to pressure Israel to halt actions against Palestinian civilians.
• Guarantees for emergency aid to reach those in need, particularly children in Gaza.
• An end to all weapons trade with Israel.
• Welcoming pediatric patients from Gaza to Finland for treatment, noting that the Helsinki-Uusimaa Hospital District (HUS) has offered treatment.

Context and Government Criticism

The protest also criticized the Finnish government for its perceived inaction, including not demanding safe passage for the Global Sumud Flotilla, which includes Finnish participants aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. According to a recent survey, a majority of lawmakers in the Finnish parliament support the recognition of Palestine as a state. Furthermore, three major opposition parties submitted an interpellation on September 19, 2025, against the four-party alliance government, citing its failure to take measures towards recognizing a Palestinian state. This event marked the second silent, orchestral protest of its kind, following a similar demonstration held on August 9 of this year.