Finland has condemned Israel's confiscation of more than 800 hectares of Palestinian land in the West Bank.

The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs issued a statement about the matter on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

"This runs counter to not only international law but also international efforts to de-escalate. We do not recognize changes to the 1967 borders unless agreed by the parties," the post stated.

Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced last week that the land in the occupied West Bank would come under the control of the Israeli state, a decision that would facilitate its use for the building of settlements.

The move follows a similar re-designation of about 300 hectares in the Maale Adumim area of the West Bank last month.

The United States and other Western nations have criticised Israel's expansion of settlements in the West Bank, noting it was inconsistent with international law.

Finland's condemnation comes at a key moment in the crisis, with news agency Reuters reporting that relations between US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have sunk to a new low after the US allowed a Gaza ceasefire resolution to pass through the United Nations.

Last week, Finland announced it would resume funding the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) after previously suspending the payments following allegations that several members of the organisation were involved in the Hamas terror attacks in Israel on 7 October.