Sumud—The Finnish Palestine Network

Sumud—The Finnish Palestine Network (Finnish: Sumud – Suomen Palestiina -verkosto) is a Finnish solidarity organisation founded in 2023 that works for the realisation of Palestinian human and political rights and for ending Israeli apartheid, occupation, colonialism and genocide. It describes itself as an intersectional organisation and operates as part of the global movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people. Its stated goal is to end Finnish support for Israeli colonialism and apartheid and to turn it into support for democracy, decolonisation and human rights. The organisation supports the Palestinian civil society call for boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS), including the demand that Israel end its occupation and colonisation of Arab lands, grant equality to Palestinian citizens of Israel, and implement the right of Palestinian refugees to return. Sumud does not take a position on the specific political arrangement through which these rights would be realised, such as a one democratic state or a confederation, except that it must respect international law, guarantee the rights of all people who live in or have been exiled from Palestine, and be supported by Palestinians. It recognises that the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank alone would not realise the rights of all Palestinian refugees nor the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel. The organisation states that it does not take sides in party politics in any country and is opposed to all forms of colonialism, racism – including antisemitism and islamophobia – as well as sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism and other forms of bigotry. It recognises the right of all peoples to armed resistance as laid out in international law, but does not advocate for nor condemn armed resistance per se, and states that it is opposed to violence against civilians and does not support or fundraise for armed resistance or any other violent activities. Sumud coordinates Finnish Palestine activism and has active local chapters in Helsinki, Hämeenlinna, Jyväskylä, Kouvola, Kuopio, Meri-Lappi (Tornio), Oulu and Tampere. It has organised pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Helsinki and runs campaigns such as "Israeli products out of shops", "Apartheid Free Zones" and "Compassion's Purse". The organisation also offers Palestinian Arabic courses and hosts events such as the Run with Palestine run club and Tatreez and Tea gatherings. It has received financial support from the Kone Foundation, including a grant of 144,290 euros in 2024. Sumud has been recognised for its work, receiving the University of Helsinki's Vuoden Kristiina 2024 award, the Naisasialiitto Unioni's Lyyti 2024 award, and the Vasemmistonaiset Pro feminismi 2025 award. It has also faced criticism from some Finnish politicians.

Sumud—The Finnish Palestine Network was founded in the summer of 2023 as a Finnish solidarity organisation supporting Palestinian rights. It became active in October of the same year, following the outbreak of the Gaza war. The organisation's first chairperson was Finnish-Palestinian actress and screenwriter Noora Dadu, with researchers Majed Abusalama and Syksy Räsänen as vice chairpersons. In the spring of 2024, Abusalama was elected chairperson. Sumud coordinates Finnish Palestine activism and has a stated goal that one third of its board members should be Palestinian. Active groups operate in Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Joensuu, as well as in other localities. In Helsinki, Sumud has organised pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The network has received financial support from the Kone Foundation; in 2024 the support amounted to 144,290 euros. The organisation supports the Palestinian civil society call for boycotts, divestments and sanctions (BDS) and the BDS call's demands for Israel to end occupation and colonisation of Arab lands, grant equality to Palestinian citizens of Israel, and implement the right of Palestinian refugees to return. It does not take a position on the specific political arrangement in which these rights are realised, except that it must respect international law, guarantee the rights of all people who live in or have been exiled from Palestine, and be supported by Palestinians. Sumud recognises that the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank alone would not realise the rights of all Palestinian refugees nor the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel. Sumud is opposed to all forms of colonialism, racism – including antisemitism and islamophobia – as well as sexism, transphobia, homophobia, ableism, and all other forms of bigotry. It recognises the right of all peoples to armed resistance as laid out in international law, but does not advocate for nor condemn armed resistance per se. It is opposed to violence against civilians and does not support or fundraise for armed resistance or any other violent activities in any context. Sumud views the struggle for a free Palestine as simultaneously a feminist question, a human rights question and a queer question. It supports the struggle of queer people in the global south. Upon receiving the Lyyti award, Sumud stated: "In Israel's oppression of Palestine and Palestinians, several power structures intersect, such as racism, colonialism and patriarchy. The Palestine question is therefore a feminist question: opposing genocide, apartheid and colonialism requires active feminist solidarity." Sumud's vice chairperson Syksy Räsänen has said that Hamas's attack on October 7 was a response to "colonialism, apartheid, occupation, siege" and that Palestinians have the right to armed resistance. According to Räsänen, "attacks against civilians are unequivocally wrong, whoever commits them and whoever the target is". Chairperson Noora Dadu has commented that "a genocide is underway in Gaza, and Finland is complicit in it". Sumud has received several recognitions, especially for advancing feminism. The University of Helsinki's gender studies discipline selected Sumud for the Vuoden Kristiina 2024 award. According to the award jury, Sumud's decolonial, intersectional and inclusive work continues the tradition of feminist, abolitionist and anti-racist politics and thought represented by, for example, Angela Davis and Ruth Wilson Gilmore. The jury stated that the organisation promotes intersectional and decolonial feminism. Naisasialiitto Unioni selected Sumud as the Lyyti of 2024. Vasemmistonaiset awarded the 2025 Pro feminismi prize to Sumud for its "uncompromising work against racism and colonialism". Sumud has also faced criticism. Member of Parliament Sanna Antikainen (Finns Party) has criticised Sumud for acting in line with Hamas's interests and possibly supporting extremist movements.

• Sumud—The Finnish Palestine Network is founded in the summer.

• Organisation becomes active following the outbreak of the Gaza war.

• Noora Dadu serves as first chairperson; Majed Abusalama and Syksy Räsänen as vice chairpersons.

• Majed Abusalama elected chairperson in the spring.

• Receives 144,290 euros in financial support from the Kone Foundation.

• Awarded the University of Helsinki's Vuoden Kristiina 2024 prize.

• Selected as Lyyti of 2024 by Naisasialiitto Unioni.

• Awarded the Pro feminismi 2025 prize by Vasemmistonaiset.

• S Group removes Israeli products from its selection following campaign pressure.

Intersectional solidarity organisation campaigning for Palestinian rights and against Israeli apartheid, occupation and colonialism, operating within the global BDS movement.

1. 1Sumud — Sumudsumud.fi
2. 2About — Sumudsumud.fi
3. 3Israeli products out of shops — Sumudsumud.fi
4. 4Sumud—The Finnish Palestine Network — Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Sumud — Wikipedia (Finnish)fi.wikipedia.org