Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen (NCP) on Saturday told Yle that a few Finnish citizens remained in Gaza.
"We received information this morning that Egypt will allow foreigners to cross from Gaza into Egypt at the Rafah border crossing in the afternoon," Valtonen told Yle.
She said the Foreign Ministry was hoping that Finns in Gaza would make their way to Rafah as the situation in Gaza is deteriorating by the hour.
The Rafah crossing between Sinai and Gaza has remained open, news agency Reuters reported, citing the Egyptian foreign ministry. Egypt has asked Israel to avoid targeting the Palestinian side of the crossing.
Finnish policy unchanged
Valtonen said Finland supports a two-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. This model would be the outcome of a negotiation process culminating in two independent states living in peace, according to Valtonen.
"The two-state model is unfortunately facing significant difficulties, but no one has proposed a credible alternative for it either," Valtonen explained.
The Foreign Minister emphasised that Finland has good relations with the Palestinian Authority and that the Hamas attack does not change Finland's position.
"There is no immediate need to change Finland's policy towards the Palestinians," she added.
Finland has a liaison office in Ramallah on the West Bank, led by an ambassador.
"You have to always remember that there is a clear distinction between the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority and Hamas, which is broadly recognised as a terrorist organization. Finland has not maintained any contact with Hamas," Valtonen pointed out.
The Israeli military has urged civilians in northern Gaza to leave the area via two evacuation corridors on Saturday afternoon.
"The United States' support for Israel is very strong, but the situation of civilians in Gaza has also garnered the attention of the Americans," she said.
Finland's evacuation flight from Israel landed at Helsinki Airport on Saturday morning.
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