Helsinki: Finnish President Alexander Stubb said he is prepared to approve the recognition of Palestine if the government submits an official proposal.

According to Qatar News Agency, Stubb's remarks come in the wake of announcements by France, Britain, and Canada regarding their intention to recognize the State of Palestine next September. In a post on the X platform, Stubb emphasized that this move strengthens the momentum for recognizing Palestine and sees it as a way to revive the peace process.

"We have been discussing this difficult question since the beginning of October 2023. Now I myself see that the situation has progressed to the point where Finland must make its choice," Stubb stated. He further elaborated that he is ready to accept a government proposal to recognize Palestine, with or without conditions, immediately.

In related developments, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo expressed his support for a two-state solution. However, he did not specify whether his government intends to propose formal recognition of the State of Palestine. Orpo mentioned that consultations with President Stubb on this issue will continue until the UN General Assembly next September.

These developments occur amidst growing international demands for the recognition of Palestine, following a collective appeal by 15 Western countries to address this issue in the upcoming UN General Assembly session. This comes against the backdrop of the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza, resulting in over 208,000 casualties, predominantly affecting women and children.

Earlier this year, Spain, Norway, and Ireland officially recognized the State of Palestine, with Slovenia following suit in June. Currently, 149 out of 193 UN member states have recognized the State of Palestine.