Saudi Arabia welcomed on Wednesday the decision by Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognise the state of Palestine.
The move “reflects the international consensus on the right of the Palestinian people to determine their own destiny,” it said.
It called on the rest of the countries to follow in their footsteps, which should help pave “a credible irreversible path to achieve a just and lasting peace that will secure the rights of the Palestinian people.”
The kingdom stressed that it calls on “the international community, especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council who have not yet recognised a Palestinian state, to do so”. It reiterated that such a state should be based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also welcomed the recognition of a Palestinian state.
UK in no hurry to recognise Palestine
Meanwhile, the UK chancellor of the exchequer said on Wednesday that it was not yet time for the UK to recognise Palestine as a state, but added that they would continue to consider the issue.
Jeremy Hunt told Sky News:
Well, we have a long-standing position on this that we will be prepared to recognise the state of Palestine at the time that it most helps the peace process.
His words came in response to a question on whether Britain would follow the decision by Ireland, Spain and Norway to recognise Palestine as a state. Hunt also added:
Our position is that this is not the right time to do it at the moment.
The official recognition by Ireland, Norway and Spain of an independent Palestinian state will take effect on 28 May, their leaders announced on Wednesday.
Gaza offensive continues
The recognition comes as Israel continues its offensive on the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in the besieged Palestinian enclave.
Since last October, an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas has killed more than 35,600 Palestinians, the vast majority of them women and children, and injured nearly 79,900.
More than seven months into Israel’s war, vast swathes of Gaza lie in ruins under a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel has been accused of genocide by the UN International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its troops do not commit acts of genocide and to take measures to guarantee humanitarian aid to Gaza’s civilian population. International Criminal Court (ICC) chief prosecutor Karim Khan said in a statement that he was “applying for arrest warrants” for Benjamin Netanyahu, Sinwar and other senior Israeli and Hamas figures who have played key roles in the ongoing war in Gaza.
Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis commented on X the ICC’s decision on Netanyahu:
I almost feel sorry for Germany’s political class. If Netanyahu is indicted by the ICC, they will have to arrest an Israeli PM if he steps of German soil. Will they then ban themselves from Germany on the grounds of antisemitism? [Yes, I confess to enjoying the delicious irony.]
