The Greens intend to express distrust towards Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen (centre).
Häkkänen visited Israel this week and met the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz. The Cabinet states that during the visit, Häkkänen also became acquainted with the Da'vid Linko missile defense system procured by Finland.
The leader of the Greens, Sofia Virta, condemns the visit and demands that the government clarify who made the decision to visit and whether it was agreed upon by the government.
"It is completely incomprehensible that the Finnish Minister of Defence traveled to meet the Israeli Minister of Defence Katz, who violates international law and commits genocide against the people. It is a political decision and a strong symbolic gesture," Virta writes in her statement.
Katz has also stated that there is no other solution to the situation in Gaza than for the Palestinians to leave the area. Population displacement would be a war crime and ethnic cleansing, Virta writes.
"The decision of the Finnish Minister of Defence to go to a political meeting with such a minister is not only immoral but simply incredibly stupid. It makes Finland's Israel policy appear not only darker but also completely nonsensical," Virta writes.
The government did not get Häkkänen to comment on his visit on Sunday.
Häkkänen commented on his visit to Ilta-Sanomat on Saturday. He emphasized Iran's role in the Middle East conflict.
"Hamas and Hezbollah operate in practice as extensions of the Iranian armed forces even within Israel. This problem is not over yet. It is a great tragedy that it also causes human suffering to a significant number of people," Häkkänen told the newspaper.
Timo R. Stewart, a researcher specializing in the Middle East at the University of Helsinki, says that Häkkänen practically repeats Israel's narrative.
"Emphasizing Iran's role is certainly appropriate for Israel."
According to Stewart, it is true that Iran has supported very closely for years, especially Hezbollah operating in Lebanon and also Hamas.
However, there are reasons for the Gaza crisis that have nothing to do with Iran, but with Israel's own actions, Stewart says.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories for decades is unlawful. Israel's actions are currently being investigated as potential genocide.
"None of these issues relate to Iran. Rather, to the situation that the Israeli government deliberately maintains. That is, by building settlements and continuing the occupation in Palestine. These are issues that have continued for decades before Iran had any role in the matter."
Therefore, emphasizing Iran's role to Israel is a way to bypass criticism directed at its own actions, Stewart says.
Häkkänen said that Hezbollah and Hamas operate even within Israel. It is certain that they are trying to recruit agents within Israel who would carry out attacks, Stewart says.
"But there is a long road until they actually operate as an extension of the Iranian armed forces within Israel."
The Foreign Minister, Häkkänen's political ally Elina Valtonen (centre), joined 12 Western public statements, in which foreign ministers reported that their countries are either driving or considering the restriction of trade of products from the settlements on the West Bank occupied by Israel.
The coalition partners, the Finns and the Christian Democrats, disapproved of this, although Finland's official stance is that Israel's occupation is unlawful.
Häkkänen did not take a position in a statement to the IS interview.
Stewart estimates that Häkkänen's visit to Israel shows some kind of sign of support to the country.
"Once the arms deals have been made, I do not know if there is a need for a courtesy call. Yes, it sends a message that cooperation is desired."
Stewart follows the situation in Gaza closely. He describes it as "an absolutely catastrophic ordeal". Israel now directly controls about 70 percent of the Gaza area. Israel unilaterally expanded the area in October 2025 after the so-called ceasefire, Stewart says.
"The entire living population is crammed into 30 percent of the Gaza area. Most of them live in tents. They do not even receive sufficient humanitarian aid. There is no sewage system, people live there in absolutely horrific conditions."
According to local authorities, 1,400 Palestinians have been killed after the ceasefire.
"In any other circumstances, such a killing would be a crime of war based on the number of dead alone."