Norway, Ireland, and Spain have announced their recognition of a Palestinian state, further isolating Israel amidst its ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, Associated Press reports.
Norway, Ireland, and Spain plan to formalize their recognition on May 28. However, the recognition is not expected to impact the ongoing war or the broader Israel-Palestine conflict significantly. Israel, who opposes Palestinian statehood, condemned these decisions, recalling its ambassadors and summoning the envoys from the three countries, accusing them of rewarding Hamas for its recent attack on Israel.
Palestinian officials welcomed the recognition as a significant step toward their goal of statehood in territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 Mideast war. These territories include east Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. While over 140 countries already recognize a Palestinian state, this coordinated European recognition could add momentum to international support.
This recognition came shortly after the International Criminal Court sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister. The ICC is also considering genocide allegations against Israel, which the country denies.
