REUTER: Ireland, Spain, and Norway announced on Wednesday that they will recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, urging other Western nations to follow their lead. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that this move aims to boost efforts to secure a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
“We hope our recognition encourages other Western countries to join us, as greater support will strengthen our ability to impose a ceasefire, secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, and revive the political process toward a peace agreement,” Sanchez said in a speech to the lower house.
Israel’s war in Gaza was a response to an October 7 assault by Hamas that resulted in 1,200 deaths and over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Gaza’s health ministry reports that Israel’s operations have killed over 35,000 Palestinians.
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Spain and its allies have been lobbying European nations, including France, Portugal, Belgium, and Slovenia, to support the recognition of a Palestinian state. “Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain announce our recognition of the state of Palestine,” said Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris at a press conference in Dublin. He emphasised that each country will take the necessary national steps to implement this decision.
Harris also affirmed Ireland’s unequivocal recognition of Israel and its right to exist “securely and in peace with its neighbors,” calling for the immediate return of all hostages in Gaza. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store reiterated that the only political solution is for “two states living side by side in peace and security.”
AMBASSADORS RECALLED
REUTER: In response to the announcements, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the immediate return of the Israeli ambassadors from the three countries for consultations, warning of further “severe consequences.”
“I am sending a clear message today: Israel will not be complacent against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security,” he declared. Israel’s foreign ministry stated it would also reprimand the Irish, Spanish, and Norwegian ambassadors and show them a video of female hostages being held by Hamas.
Israel contends that the only path to Palestinian statehood is through negotiations, arguing that bypassing this process incentivizes violence from Hamas and other militant groups. While 144 out of 193 UN member-states have recognized Palestinian statehood, including most of the global south, Russia, China, and India, only a few of the 27 EU members have done so, with Sweden being the first in 2014. The UK and Australia have indicated they might follow suit soon.
Palestinians seek statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as their capital. Last month, Israel’s staunchest ally, the United States, vetoed a UN attempt at recognizing a Palestinian state, maintaining that a two-state solution must arise from direct negotiations between the parties.
