Three countries have recognized the independence of Palestine

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store have announced their recognition of Palestine as an independent state, The Guardian reports .

The leader of the Norwegian government said at a press conference that "Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state." He believes that peace in the region is impossible without recognition of Palestine's independence.

The Irish Prime Minister said during his speech: "Each of us will now take all the necessary national steps to implement this decision. I am confident that in the coming weeks, other countries will join us in taking this important step."

In turn, the Prime Minister of Spain demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Pedro Sanchez believes that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is giving orders to bomb hospitals, schools and civilian homes and that he has no plan to resolve the conflict.

"He continues to use hunger, cold and terror to punish more than a million innocent boys and girls - so far that International Criminal Court prosecutors this week called for his arrest for war crimes," Sanchez added .

Official decisions by all three countries to recognize a Palestinian state will come into effect on May 28.

In response to the recognition of Palestinian independence, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz decided to announce on his page on the social network X that Israel was recalling its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations.

In his statement, Katz wrote: “I am sending a clear and unambiguous message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who undermine its sovereignty and threaten its security <...> This misguided move by these countries is an injustice to the memory of the victims of October 7, a blow to efforts to return the 128 hostages, and an encouragement to Hamas militants and Iranian jihadist groups, undermining the chances for peace and calling into question Israel’s right to self-defense.”

Katz's statement came before Spain recognized Palestine's independence. The Israeli Foreign Minister also promised to recall his ambassador from Spain if the country "takes a similar step."

The Guardian notes that the first EU member state to recognize Palestine's independence was Sweden. It did so back in 2014. Other EU states that recognized Palestine were Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Malta, Poland, and Romania, but, as the publication emphasizes, these countries declared their recognition of independence before joining the European Union.

As the Associated Press notes , some European countries have said that recognizing Palestinian independence "is essential for lasting peace in the region" and could "spur further action by the United Nations, further isolating Israel."

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