A joint announcement
Spain, Norway and Ireland will declare tomorrow, Tuesday, their official recognition of the Palestinian state, according to statements by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. This decision, agreed between the three European countries, complies with the resolutions of the General Assembly and the United Nations Security Council, and represents a commitment to multilateralism.
Context of violence and hope for peace
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide underlined that recognition of Palestinian statehood is a timely step to end the endless cycle of violence in Gaza and the West Bank. This move is seen as a critical step towards the resumption of the Middle East peace process. Eide also encouraged other European countries to follow this example.
International framework and diplomatic support
The announcement was made at a press conference in Brussels, on the sidelines of talks aimed at mobilizing international support to end the continued Israeli war in Gaza and to promote a two-state solution. With this recognition, the number of countries recognizing the Palestinian state will reach 147 out of the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly.
Status of Palestine and Israeli-American opposition
Palestine has had non-member observer state status at the UN since November 29, 2012. Nevertheless, Israel and its ally the United States oppose unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state by other nations. and its efforts to achieve full membership in the UN. Last April, the United States used its veto power in the UN Security Council against a resolution recommending Palestinian membership.
Impact of ongoing conflicts
The announcement comes against a backdrop of intense war launched by Israel against Gaza on October 7, 2023, which has already claimed more than 115,000 lives, mainly women and children. The degraded humanitarian situation and massive destruction call for urgent diplomatic actions to restore peace and security in the region.
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