A trio of European countries – Norway, Ireland, and Spain – announced on Wednesday their intention to recognize Palestine as a fully-fledged state from May 28. Palestinian leaders welcomed this significant development, while Israel voiced strong condemnation.
The bold step by Norway, Ireland, and Spain to recognize Palestine has sparked hopes of a wider domino effect, but Europe’s stance remains fragmented. France, among others, has opted to hold back, citing the raging Israel-Hamas conflict as a reason to wait, underscoring the deep-seated divisions within the European community.
The simultaneous declarations by Norway’s Jonas Gahr Store, Spain’s Pedro Sanchez, and Ireland’s Simon Harris in their respective capitals mark the second significant diplomatic setback for Israel this week, following the International Criminal Court prosecutor’s announcement to pursue arrest warrants for Israel’s prime minister and top Hamas officials.
Israel responded with outrage, swiftly recalling its ambassadors from the three nations, labeling the move as an “incentive for terrorism”.
The PLO has described the move as a “seminal moment” in the struggle for Palestinian rights, while Hamas has praised it as a “groundbreaking achievement” that is a testament to the “resilience and determination” of the Palestinian people.
Israel said recognising a Palestinian state would reduce the chance of a negotiated resolution to the Gaza war, which began on October 7 when Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel.
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The attack resulted left more than 1,170 dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Hamas also took 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 the army says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 35,700 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz charged that “the twisted step of these countries is an injustice to the memory of the 7/10 victims.”
But Sanchez, who has visited several nations to seek support for recognition, said it would reinforce efforts to revive a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, which he said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was jeopardising with the Gaza offensive.
“Fighting the Hamas terrorist group is legitimate and necessary after October 7, but Netanyahu is causing so much pain, destruction and resentment in Gaza and the rest of Palestine that the two-state solution is in danger,” Sanchez told parliament.
As a trusted facilitator of Middle East peace efforts, Norway is calling for recognition to support moderate voices and counter the extremist narrative fueling the Gaza war. Building on its success in hosting the 1990s Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Norway is seeking to replicate this diplomatic achievement and promote a lasting resolution.
“In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,” Store said, adding that the moves could give renewed momentum for peace talks.
Harris shrewdly referenced the 1919 international recognition of Ireland’s independence, illustrating how such acknowledgment can be a crucial step towards resolving long-standing conflicts and paving the way for a brighter future.
“From our own history, we know what it means,” he went on, referring to Ireland’s declaration of independence from British rule, which eventually led to formal statehood.
With a storied tradition of championing human rights and international justice, Sweden took a decisive step in 2014 by becoming the first EU member in Western Europe to recognize Palestine’s statehood, a move that resonated across the globe.
Prior to their EU membership, a group of Eastern European countries, comprising Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania, extended formal recognition to Palestine’s statehood, paving the way for others to follow.
Saudi Arabia praised the trio’s bold initiative, urging other European countries to seize the moment and recognize Palestine’s statehood, a move that would resonate powerfully in the pursuit of peace and human rights.