Finland to join French-Saudi led NY declaration on Palestine: FM

Finland on Friday decided to join the New York Declaration for a peaceful solution of Palestine crisis prepared by France and Saudi Arabia, said Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen.

“I have today decided that Finland will join the New York Declaration on the peaceful settlement of the Question of Palestine and the implementation of the two-state solution, prepared by France and Saudi Arabia,” Valtonen wrote in a post on her social media platform X.

Terming the move as the most serious attempt by the international community in years to resolve the Middle East conflict, she said it is important that Finland supports it.

"The process led by France and Saudi Arabia is the most significant international effort in years to create the conditions for a two-state solution," Valtonen wrote.

The declaration brings together broad international support to end the war in Gaza, release all hostages and strengthen the security of both Israelis and Palestinians, said the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in a press release.

It outlines a step-by-step process leading to a permanent end to hostilities and to the achievement of a two-state solution in accordance with the UN resolutions.

The declaration also calls on both the Israelis and Palestinians to resume direct negotiations.

According to the declaration, governance, law enforcement and security across all Palestinian territory must lie solely with the Palestinian Authority. Hamas must end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons.

The deployment of a temporary international stabilisation mission, to be mandated by the UN, would support transfer of internal security responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, monitor the ceasefire and provide security guarantees for Israel and Palestine.

The document also calls for the Palestinian Authority to continue its reforms and hold elections, for measures combating radicalisation and hate speech, and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza, as part of the agreed arrangements.

France and Saudi Arabia hosted a conference at the UN on 28–30 July to advance a two-state solution in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

At the end of the conference, France and Saudi Arabia invited UN Member States to join the declaration. The deadline for making the announcement to join is 5 September 2025.

The next step of the declaration is a high-level UN meeting in this month. Many countries including France, Canada and Australia already announced that they will recognise Palestine at the meeting.

As of March 2025, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 147 member countries of the United Nations out of the total 193 member states.