The Palestinian ambassador to Lisbon, Nabil Abuznaid, expressed hope that Portugal could soon join the countries recognising Palestine, Euractiv reported.
The Ambassador referred to the fact that Portuguese parliamentarians had made repeated appeals to the Government to that effect.
I hope that Portugal will join this group of countries to be among the first European countries to recognise the State of Palestine, especially since the friendly Portuguese people are one of the defenders of the rights of the Palestinian people. In fact, the Portuguese parliament has asked the government more than once, for a long time, to recognise the State of Palestine.
Nabil Abuznaid also thanked “all the peoples and governments of the world who support the Palestinian people in achieving their national goals.” According to the Palestinian diplomat, recognising the state of Palestine is an important step towards a two-state solution.
“Failure to recognise the State of Palestine will encourage the continuation of the occupation and injustice against the Palestinian people. On this occasion, I must also thank the son of Portugal, António Guterres.”
The diplomat quoted Guterres as saying on Monday after an Israeli attack on a refugee camp in Rafah that left 45 dead.
I condemn Israel’s actions, which have killed dozens of innocent civilians who were only seeking shelter in this deadly conflict. There is no safe place in Gaza. This horror must stop.
Meanwhile, the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez approved the official recognition of Palestine as a state on Tuesday. Prime Minister spokeswoman Pilar AlegrÃa and Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares made the announcement at a press conference in Madrid.
In Italy, former PM and head of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), Giuseppe Conte, also supported the creation of Palestine as a state.
“Another massacre of civilians in Rafah. More deaths, more destruction among the displaced. Today in the Chamber the [M5S] showed the flags of two peoples who have no voice, those who others do not want to listen to: the Palestinian civilians who die in the raids and the people of peace who demand a ceasefire. Enough with the sloth. Let’s stop Netanyahu’s madness! Two peoples and two states for Palestine and Israel.”
Spain, Norway, and Ireland pledged to formally recognise Palestine as a state, joining over 140 countries around the globe that had already done so.
