Riad Al-Malki, foreign minister of Palestinian National Authority urged Israel to lift the blockade on Gaza immediately during his visit to Finland on Wednesday.

Invited by Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, Al-Malki arrived on Wednesday for a one-day visit to Finland. Stubb met with Al-Malki and held talks over the current situation in the Middle East and Palestinian area.

At a press conference after their meeting Al-Malki emphasized that Israel has "no excuse to maintain the blockade over Gaza." He urged Israel to lift the blockade immediately and completely, in order to rebuild the Gaza region.

In responding to the news that Israel may ease restrictions in the Gaza blockade, Al-Malki said that merely easing restriction was not enough. There are 1.5 million residents living in Gaza strip and most of them depend on foreign aid to live. He said "If blockade over Gaza Strip is lifted, we can gradually live normal lives on our own hands without foreign aids."

For his part Stubb said that Finland is very concerned about current situation of Gaza and emphasized the importance to improve Gaza situation. Stubb urges to have an international investigation on Israel's attack on Gaza aid flotilla bound for Gaza.