Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognise Palestinian statehood, angering Israel amid Gaza war
- The three European countries believe their initiative has strong symbolic impact, hope others will follow
- Dozens of countries have recognised a Palestinian state, but none of the major Western powers
Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognised a Palestinian state on Tuesday in a coordinated effort by the three western European nations to add international pressure on Israel to soften its devastating response to last year’s Hamas-led attack. Tel Aviv slammed the diplomatic move that will have no immediate impact on its grinding war in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told his nation in a televised address from Madrid that “this is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace.”
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz quickly lashed out at Spain on X, saying Sanchez’s government was “being complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes.”
Ireland and Norway soon joined Spain in formalising a decision they had jointly announced the previous week.
The Palestinian flag was raised in Dublin outside Leinster House, the seat of the Irish parliament.
“This is an important moment and I think it sends a signal to the world that there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep the hope and destination of a two-state solution alive at a time when others are trying to sadly bomb it into oblivion,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said before his Cabinet met to formally sign off on the decision.
