union Seventy-five Finnish cultural figures, including actors, musicians, filmmakers and writers, have launched a video appeal calling on the Finnish government to support South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel over the alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. This video, published on YouTube by the Sumud-Finland Palestine Network, features translated excerpts of documents submitted by South Africa to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to raise awareness of the case and advocate for the rights of Palestinians. It is intended to protect.
Famous Finnish cultural figures such as actors Jani Toivola, Marti Suosalo, Hanu Pekka Bjorkman, Vesa Wielikko, Anna Airolaactor, artist Chike Ohanwemusician Pauli Hanhiniemiand filmmaker Ima Iduozee, Shareef Abu Askar, Selma Vielinenand Jenny Toivoniemiparticipated in the video. They demand an end to the genocide against the Palestinian people and the realization of their human rights.
Elina KunitilaOne of the actors in the video emphasized the seriousness of the situation in Gaza, saying, “1% of Gaza residents have been killed in a few months, and more and more people believe that genocide is occurring in Gaza.” The South African case material is surprisingly thorough and persuasive, and importantly, it is also available in Finnish. ”
The video also includes comments from the Finnish-Palestinian artist, chairman of Sumud ry Noora Dadu, highlighted the emotional impact of hearing the charges during the ICJ session. “For many Palestinians, including myself, it was an emotional moment when a jurist in a wig said what Palestinians have been shouting deafeningly for weeks, months, and years. It was a moment. I felt, perhaps for the first time, that the Palestinian people were being talked about in an authoritative context as human beings who should be protected by law.”
Dadu also warned that Finland could be complicit in genocide by not actively supporting the ICJ case. She argued that Finland has an opportunity to promote peace and justice by supporting the case, thereby beginning to free itself from involvement in ongoing crimes.
This video was produced by the Apartheid History Workgroup of the Free Palestinian Community and the Sumdo Finnish Palestine Network. The Free Palestine Community is a collective of approximately 600 volunteers focused on low-barrier work. @apartheidhistoriaan is an Instagram account and YouTube channel originating from this community that provides information in Finnish about the occupation of the Palestinian territories, Israeli apartheid, and genocide. .
In late December 2023, South Africa filed a lawsuit with the ICJ accusing the State of Israel of committing genocide through its attack on Gaza. On January 26, the ICJ imposed interim measures on Israel regarding the genocide case, including preventing acts that could be interpreted as genocide and ensuring the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza. These interim measures are legally binding.
The imposition of interim measures is a provisional decision in the handling of genocide cases, and a final judgment may take several years.Minister of Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen Finland has previously said it will assess its position on South Africa’s case in the spring and may support the case through a declaration of intervention.
HT