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Three European countries have decided to officially recognize Palestine as a state. The countries are Spain, Ireland and Norway. Ireland and Norway said they are ready to recognize Palestine as a state after a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Source: Al Jazeera
After meeting Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez in Dublin on Friday (April 12), the Irish Prime Minister said Ireland wants to recognize Palestine soon, but through coordinated action with Spain and other European countries.
Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said Spain wants to recognize Palestine 'as soon as possible'. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoer also said the same thing. He said that his country is ready to recognize the Palestinian state like other countries.
Sanchez said interested countries would make their announcements “when the situation is appropriate” and that they would support the new Palestinian state becoming a “full member of the United Nations.”
Earlier, European countries Malta and Slovenia said that they will recognize Palestine as a state. They jointly announced this after a meeting with the Prime Ministers of Spain, Ireland, and Norway with the Prime Ministers of Malta and Slovenia.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched an operation in the Gaza Strip on October 7 in response to a surprise attack by Hamas, the group that controls the Gaza Strip. More than 33,000 people have been killed and 75,000 injured in the last 7 months of operations. In addition, millions of Palestinians have lost their homes due to Israeli bombardment.
Earlier, on October 7, Hamas fighters attacked Gaza's northern Erez border and entered Israeli territory, firing indiscriminately. 1 thousand 200 Israelis and citizens of other countries were killed. In addition, Hamas took 240 hostages to Gaza.
Out of those hostages, 132 people have been released so far. The remaining 108 are still in the hands of Hamas. Negotiations are underway to call for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza for their release.
However, there is considerable doubt as to how many of these hostages are still alive.
Some EU member states, including Spain, Ireland and Norway, are sympathetic to the Palestinians and are keen to recognize Palestine as a state. The issue has become more dynamic since the start of Israeli forces' operation in Gaza.
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