Three European Nations Norway, Ireland, and Spain will recognize Palestine as an independent state on May 28, 2024. This significant moment in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict marked a shift in European diplomacy. The move was welcomed by the Palestinians but condemned by Israel.
Next week, Three European Nations Ireland, Spain, and Norway will officially recognize a Palestinian state. A historic move that is expected to support the Palestinian cause but may create tension with Israel. Leaders from these countries believe this decision will help achieve lasting peace in the Middle East.
At a news conference, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris announced the recognition alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez. They stated that this recognition is necessary for a two-state solution, a key to peace in the region. This move comes amidst ongoing tensions in the region and is seen as a significant shift in European diplomacy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israel reacted strongly, with its foreign minister recalling ambassadors from these three countries. Israel is also claiming the decision undermines Israel’s sovereignty and security. The move was welcomed by Palestinian officials and Hamas. While other countries, including the United States, prefer peace to be negotiated directly between Israel and Palestine.
This decision adds to the list of over 140 UN member states that recognize Palestine, although not all EU countries do. The recognition by Ireland, Spain, and Norway will take effect on May 28.
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Israel condemned the recognition of a Palestinian state. The officials are claiming it rewards Hamas militants for their attacks and undermines the peace process. The announcements, made nearly simultaneously by the respective governments, were met with praise from Palestinian officials. “This is a courageous step in the right direction,” said the Palestinian Authority’s chief negotiator Saeb Erekat. Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, also welcomed the recognition.
Israeli attacks in Gaza have since killed at least 35,647 Palestinians and injured another 79,852 people, according to the Ministry of Health there. The vast majority of the population in Gaza was descendants of 700,000 Palestinians who fled or were forcibly expelled from their homes during what Palestinians call al-Nakba, or “the catastrophe,” of the 1948-49 war, in what is now Israel.
The recognition by Norway, Ireland, and Spain is largely symbolic but carries strong political weight. It bolsters international support for Palestinian statehood and adds pressure on Israel to engage in meaningful negotiations toward a two-state solution.