The people of Palestine are finally getting their due recognition from Western capitals as Spain, Norway, and Ireland have officially announced to recognise the State of Palestine in a step that will take effect on May 28. There are nine European Union member states that recognise the State of Palestine. They are: Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus, Sweden, and Malta.
The State of Qatar has welcomed the announcement by Norway, Ireland, and Spain, considering this an important step in supporting the two-state solution and achieving peace and stability in the region. The State of Qatar has voiced hope that more countries would recognise the State of Palestine and promote the efforts aiming to implement the two-state solution.
Arab and Muslim world, including the Palestinians themselves, have also welcomed the move by the three European countries. Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said this recognition is a pivotal and strategic step towards achieving the two-state solution, and a strong motivation for all countries to take similar steps towards recognising the State of Palestine, which will contribute to the Palestinian people obtaining all their rights and living in peace, justice and independence, after many years of injustice, oppression, serious violations and living under the pressure of the Israeli occupation forces.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said Spain, Ireland and Norway have shown their firm commitment to the two-state solution and achieving long-awaited justice for the Palestinian people. The ministry stressed that these recognitions come in line with international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions, which in turn will contribute positively to all international efforts aimed at ending the illegal Israeli occupation and achieving peace and stability in the region.
The recognition for the Palestinian states will go a long way in ensuring a comprehensive and just peace in the region through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The recognition come even as the people of Gaza continue to suffer a brutal Israeli aggression, which has since October 7, 2023, killed at least 35,709 Palestinians and injured at least 79,990 others in the strip. Despite resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council as well as directives by the International Court of Justice, Israel continues its military operation, majority of whose victims have been innocent civilians including children, women and the elderly.
It is time the world came together to start to implement the two-state solution in the earnest and bring this long-running conflict to an end.
