Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa intensified calls for international pressure on Israel to implement the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement during a meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen in Ramallah on February 17, 2026. The discussions focused on accelerating humanitarian aid delivery and addressing ongoing violence that has claimed hundreds of Palestinian lives since the October 2025 ceasefire.
Mustafa condemned Israel's recent resumption of land registration procedures in Area C of the West Bank, warning that such moves threaten Palestinian property rights and territorial integrity. He emphasized the urgency of enforcing UN resolutions to establish an independent Palestinian state and stabilize cross-strait governance frameworks.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres separately criticized Israel's settlement expansion plans as 'unlawful' under international law, echoing concerns about escalating tensions. The developments follow the United States' mid-January 2026 announcement initiating Phase Two of the ceasefire, which includes full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and transitional governance arrangements.
Valtonen reaffirmed Finland's commitment to the two-state solution and reconstruction efforts, while global observers await concrete steps to translate diplomatic pledges into lasting peace.
