Palestinians welcomed the announcements as an affirmation of their long quest for statehood in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Israel recalled its ambassadors in the three countries and summoned their envoys, accusing the Europeans of rewarding Hamas.
Norway, Ireland and Spain said on Wednesday that they recognized a Palestinian statein a historic gesture, but largely symbolic Who reinforces Israel’s isolation more than seven months after the start of its war against Hamas in Gaza.
These announcements come as the Attorney General of the International Criminal Court seeks arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense ministerand that the International Court of Justice is examining allegations of genocide that Israel has vigorously denied.
The Palestinians welcomed these announcements as an affirmation of their decades-long quest for statehood in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories which Israel seized during the 1967 war in the Middle East and which it still controls.
Israel recalled its ambassadors in the three countries and summoned their emissariesaccusing the Europeans of rewarding the Hamas militant group for its October 7 attack that sparked the war.
Mr Netanyahu’s government, which is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state, believes the conflict can only be resolved through direct negotiations, which last failed more than 15 years ago.
Norway “opens the ball” Wednesday morning
With this official recognition, scheduled for May 28, the three countries will join the approximately 140 countries – more than two-thirds of the United Nations – that have recognized the State of Palestine over the years. The United States and Britain, among others, have supported the idea of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, but say it should be part of a negotiated settlement.
Announcements from Europe came in quick succession. Norway, which helped negotiate the Oslo Accords that kicked off the peace process in the 1990s, was the first to announce its decision, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store stating that“There can be no peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.”
The Irish Prime Minister, Simon Harrisspoke of a “historic and important day for Ireland and Palestine”specifying that the announcements had been coordinated and that other countries could join in “in the coming weeks”.
The international community has long viewed the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as the only realistic way to resolve the conflict. In recent weeks, several European Union countries have indicated they are considering recognizing a Palestinian state in order to advance these efforts.
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezwho announced his country’s decision in front of parliament, spent months traveling through countries in Europe and the Middle East to gather support for recognition and a possible ceasefire in Gaza.
“This recognition is not directed against anyone, it is not directed against the Israeli people,” said Mr. Sánchez. “It is an act in favor of peace, justice and moral coherence”. He said it was clear that Mr. Netanyahu “has no peace project”while recognizing that “the fight against the terrorist group Hamas is legitimate.”
Israel recalls its ambassadors from Ireland and Norway, Abbas and Hamas congratulate each other
The Israeli government has harshly condemned the decision taken by the three countries. Foreign Minister Israel Katz recalled Israel’s ambassadors and summoned the three countries’ envoys to Israel. He said they would watch gruesome videos of the Oct. 7 attack.
“History will record that Spain, Norway and Ireland decided to award a gold medal to Hamas murderers and rapists,” did he declare. He also said the announcement would jeopardize talks for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, which were broken off earlier this month.
President Mahmoud Abbashead of the Palestinian Authority, which administers part of the West Bank occupied by Israel, welcomed this recognition and declared that it would contribute to efforts to achieve a solution based on the coexistence of two States.
Hamas also welcomed of these decisions and called on other nations to “recognize our legitimate rights and support the struggle of our people for liberation and independence, and to end the Zionist occupation of our land.”
Hamas, which Western countries and Israel consider a terrorist group, does not recognize Israel’s existence but has indicated it could accept a state on the 1967 line, at least temporarily.
It is unlikely that these announcements will have any impact on the ground. Israel has annexed East Jerusalem and considers it part of its capital. In the occupied West Bank, he built dozens of Jewish settlements that today house more than 500,000 Israelis. The settlers have Israeli citizenship, while the three million Palestinians in the West Bank live under seemingly unlimited Israeli military rule.
In Gaza, the war still rages and Mr. Netanyahu has declared that Israel will maintain unlimited security control over the territory, even after a possible defeat of Hamas.
Hugh Lovatt, policy officer at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that “recognition is a tangible step towards a viable political path leading to Palestinian self-determination.”
But for it to have an impact, it must be accompanied by “Tangible measures to counter Israel’s annexation and colonization of Palestinian territory, such as banning settlement financial products and services.”