Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 in a coordinated decision criticized by Israel as a “reward” for Hamas amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.
The recognition by these three European countries is intended to have a symbolic impact, potentially encouraging other nations to follow suit.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris explained the decision, saying, “We had wanted to recognize Palestine at the end of a peace process. However, we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive.” He also urged Israel to “stop the humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described the recognition as “a special day for Norway-Palestine relations.” Meanwhile, Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated, “We know that there is still a long way to go, and Spain is willing to walk its part of the path to peace.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez added that recognition was “essential” for peace and not intended to oppose Israel. He emphasized that this move was necessary for achieving a two-state solution.
Israel responded strongly to the recognitions. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Sanchez of incitement, saying, “Sanchez, as long as you don’t fire your deputy and you recognize a Palestinian state, you are participating in the incitement to commit genocide and war crimes against the Jewish people.” He also posted a provocative video linking the Spanish decision to Hamas.
The Palestinian ambassador in Madrid, Husni Abdel Wahed, expressed gratitude for the recognition, calling it a “very important step” and urging other European countries to act in accordance with their values supporting the two-state solution.
Recognition of Palestinian statehood has long been a contentious issue within the European Union. While some EU countries have recognized Palestine, most have withheld recognition pending a negotiated peace settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified calls for Palestinian statehood, with Tuesday’s recognitions bringing the total number of United Nations member states recognizing Palestine to 145 out of 193.
In recent years, Sweden became the first EU member to recognize Palestine in 2014, followed by several other European countries, most of which had recognized Palestine before joining the EU. The Gaza conflict, particularly the attacks by Hamas on October 7 and the subsequent Israeli offensive, has reignited debates over Palestinian statehood and the peace process.
