On Wednesday, Spain, Ireland, and Norway made a historic decision to recognize Palestine as a state. The formal recognition will come into effect on May 28. These European nations have been advocating for a two-way solution to ensure lasting peace in the region. According to Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has claimed tens of thousands of lives, highlighting the need for a political resolution for both countries. Recognizing Palestine as a state is seen as a step towards peace not only between the two states but also in the wider Middle East. Gahr emphasized that this political move sends a strong message to the West and other countries that aspire for peace in the region.
In line with Norway, Ireland’s Prime Minister, Simon Harris, has announced that his country recognizes Palestine as a state. He is in discussions with a number of leaders from other countries and believes that they will show the same kind of confidence in taking this critical step in the coming weeks. Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, announced that his country will officially recognize Palestine as a state next Tuesday. He criticized Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for ignoring the international community’s calls to stop bombing civilian structures in Palestine and for restricting the supply of essential provisions and aid. Sanchez added that Spain will continue to exert pressure on Israel and the international community to take action.
Belgium’s Development Cooperation Minister, Caroline Gennez, has announced on X that following Spain, Ireland, and Norway, Belgium must also recognize Palestine as a state. She emphasized that Belgium should not miss this historic opportunity and she will work towards this goal in cooperation with the coalition government and seek support from colleagues.
Following this significant decision, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has announced the recall of its Ambassadors from Ireland and Norway. The government has made it clear that Israel will not remain silent on this matter and has also indicated that it plans to take similar action with Spain. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted a video message on X, expressing that recognizing a Palestinian state poses the risk of being manipulated by Iran and Hamas. He added that such a move would only contribute to extremism and instability.
Hamas, on the other hand, has called the monumental step by the three nations essential. Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti has stated that this is a powerful political and symbolically significant step for the freedom and justice of the people of Palestine.
Israel has been on a brutal offensive since October 7, 2023, even after the UN Security Council demanded an immediate cease-fire in the enclave. The bombardment of Palestine has taken the lives of at least 35,700 people. The vast majority of those people were women and children. Additionally, around 79,900 people have been injured since last October following the attack on the Islamist militant movement Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip for nearly two decades. On the other hand, Israel’s death toll from Hamas’s October 7 attack is 1,139, with dozens still held captive.
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