President of the Republic Alexander Stubb,Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and the Government of Finland, The world is currently witnessing one of the most brutal humanitarian catastrophes in recent history in the Gaza Strip. Together with journalists’ unions from other European countries and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the Union of Journalists in Finland (UJF) wishes to express our profound sympathy and support for civilians in the region, particularly journalists, who have continued to carry out their work amid war. The residents of Gaza are being subjected to deliberate, systematic starvation. With nearly half a million people facing mass starvation, Israel has prevented aid convoys from delivering assistance. Israel is using hunger as a weapon, seeking to deny Gaza’s residents basic necessities such as medicine, clean water, healthcare and education. These actions constitute crimes against humanity. Gaza is under siege, and Israel is refusing to allow foreign journalists to enter the territory. Consequently, only local journalists can report to us on the situation there. Gaza’s journalists risk their lives daily to inform the rest of the world about events in the territory. They are now being silenced through starvation. Together with the EFJ, the UJF calls attention to the situation facing Gaza’s journalists. They are starving and on the brink of physical collapse, losing their ability to do their job. According to estimates by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least 188 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the war. Their deaths send a dangerous message: the truth must not come to light. By preventing foreign journalists from reporting on the situation in the region, the Israeli army has sought to stifle freedom of expression and the public's right to information. Now, even the last witnesses are to be eliminated by starvation.Together with over 20 other countries, Finland has demanded an immediate end to the war and condemned Israel's actions in blocking aid convoys and killing Palestinians searching for food and water. However, Finland has so far been cautious about taking practical political measures to resolve the situation. We join the EFJ's demand that the European Union and its member states must take immediate action in this matter. We demand that Finland also act within the EU and other international contexts, using all means at its disposal to end the war and allow aid convoys to reach the region immediately. Finland must comply with international demands to protect local journalists and allow foreign correspondents to report from the region. Finland must demand and support the investigation of all war crimes, whether they have been directed at journalists or other civilians. It is Finland’s responsibility to uphold truth, humanity and international law in the world. When truth is to be silenced using starvation, we are duty-bound to use our voice even more firmly. Helsinki, 25 July 2025 Marjaana Varmavuori,President of the Union of Journalists in Finland Avainsanat: EFJ Gaza Israel Marjaana Varmavuori Press Freedom UJF