Spain, Norway, and Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday. This joint action by the three Western European nations aims to increase international pressure on Israel in response to its severe military actions following last year’s Hamas-led attack. Tel Aviv has strongly condemned the recognition, asserting it will have no immediate effect on the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez addressed the nation in a televised speech from Madrid, describing the decision as “historic” with the singular goal of fostering peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “This is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace,” Sanchez stated.
Reacting swiftly, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz criticized Spain’s move on social media platform X, accusing Sanchez’s government of being “complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes.”
Following Spain’s announcement, Ireland and Norway also formalized their decisions, which they had jointly announced the previous week. In Dublin, the Palestinian flag was ceremoniously raised outside Leinster House, the seat of the Irish parliament.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris highlighted the significance of this recognition in a statement before his Cabinet’s formal approval. “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,” Harris said.
Norwegian officials echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the need for renewed efforts towards peace and stability in the region. The coordinated move by these European nations underscores a growing impatience with the stalled peace process and a desire to see more concrete steps towards a two-state solution.
Israel’s response remains defiant, with officials maintaining that such recognitions will not alter the reality on the ground or their ongoing military strategy in Gaza. The international community continues to watch closely as tensions rise and diplomatic efforts intensify.