Finland has officially joined an international declaration advocating for a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a two-state solution. This diplomatic move stems from a United Nations conference held in July 2025, which was co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France with the aim of establishing a framework for lasting peace. Notably, neither the United States nor Israel participated in this conference.
Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen highlighted the declaration's significance, characterizing it as the most substantial international effort in recent years to advance a two-state solution. The declaration proposes concrete, time-bound, and irreversible steps for the establishment of two sovereign states, outlining a path to conclude the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. This initiative aligns with Finland's broader foreign and security policy, as unanimously adopted by its parliament.
While Finland now supports this diplomatic initiative, it has not yet formally recognized Palestine as a state. This stance reflects an internal division within Finland's governing coalition, with some parties opposing immediate recognition. This contrasts with the actions of several other Western nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, and Belgium, which have signaled their intention to recognize a Palestinian state in the lead-up to the September 2025 United Nations General Assembly. These coordinated recognitions aim to pressure Israel to cease military operations in Gaza and halt the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Israel has expressed strong disapproval of these recognition efforts, asserting that such moves would reward Hamas for its actions. The militant group's attacks on October 7, 2023, resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths in Israel, primarily civilians, and the taking of 251 hostages. The United States has also maintained a firm stance against these recognition efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a visa ban targeting members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, underscoring President Donald Trump's continued strong support for Israel amidst widespread international criticism of the prolonged conflict in Gaza.
These converging developments underscore the complex and evolving international dynamics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the persistent pursuit of a two-state solution. The varied approaches to recognizing Palestine highlight deep divisions and an intricate diplomatic landscape. The UN conference in July 2025, and the subsequent declarations of recognition by various Western nations, represent a concerted effort to shift the paradigm towards a resolution, even as significant geopolitical tensions persist. The U.S. visa ban on Palestinian officials, announced shortly before the UN General Assembly, further illustrates the challenging diplomatic environment, signaling a firm U.S. position that aligns with Israel's security concerns and opposition to unilateral statehood recognition outside of direct negotiations.