With these recognitions, a total of 145 out of 193 United Nations member states now recognize Palestine
Spain, Norway, and Ireland have today formally recognized the state of Palestine, breaking with the longstanding position of many Western powers that the Palestinian state must result from negotiations with Israel. The decision, approved by the respective cabinets of each country, reflects growing European support for Palestinian sovereignty in the aftermath of the devastating war in Gaza.
Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegria said that this “important decision” taken by the cabinet aims to “help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace.” Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called the recognition a matter of “historical justice,” with the sentiment among the three countries now being that it is time to take a definitive stance.
Similarly, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized Norway’s longstanding support for Palestinian statehood, saying that his country “has been one of the most fervent supporters of a Palestinian state for more than 30 years.” The Irish government also confirmed its official recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and its intention to “establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.”
“There will be an ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine, along with a full-fledged Irish embassy in Ramallah,” the Irish government said. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said that officially recognizing a Palestinian state is about keeping alive “the wonder of peace.” He called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”
These recognitions bring the total number of United Nations member states that recognize Palestine to 145 out of 193. Malta and Slovenia have also indicated their willingness to recognize Palestine when circumstances permit. Meanwhile, Australia and French President Emmanuel Macron have suggested that they might consider similar actions in the future, though Macron emphasized that this must happen “at the right time.” This move by the three European countries has drawn strong condemnations from Israel, with Netanyahu calling it a “reward for terrorism.” He added, “this evil should not be given a country.”
The background of these recognitions is the ongoing devastating war by Israel in Gaza, with Israeli offensive actions resulting in the deaths of at least 36,050 people. This increase in violence and aggression has intensified calls within Europe and around the world for a reevaluation of Palestinian statehood. The large-scale attack on a refugee camp in Rafah on Sunday, which followed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling that Israel must withdraw from the area, has further fueled international sentiment.
MOROCCO WORLD NEWS
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