Ireland and Spain have recognised a Palestinian state. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Wednesday it was a move coordinated with Spain and Norway, "a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine ". He said the move was intended to help move the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to resolution through a two-state solution.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said that his country will recognise Palestine as a state on May 28. Sánchez, Spain's Socialist leader since 2018, made the expected announcement to the nation's Parliament on Wednesday. Sánchez has spent months touring European and Middle Eastern countries to garner support for the recognition of Palestine, as well as a possible ceasefire in Gaza.
He has said several times that he was committed to the move. Earlier this month, Spain's Foreign Minister José Albares said he had informed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of his government's intention of recognising Palestine. Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz has ordered Israel's ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return to Israel, as Norway said it would recognise a Palestinian state and Ireland was expected to do the same.
"Ireland and Norway intend to send a message today to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays," Katz said. He said that the recognition could impede efforts to return Israel's hostages being held in Gaza and makes a cease-fire less likely by "rewarding the jihadists of Hamas and Iran ". He also .
