Gaza war: Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognise Palestinian state

Ahead of Spain’s cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said recognising Palestine was “not only a matter of historic justice”, it was also “an essential requirement if we are all to achieve peace”.

He insisted that Spain was not acting against Israel and was standing against Hamas which opposed a two-state solution.

Israel appears most angry with Spain. Its Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, has posted a video on social media showing flamenco dancing and music juxtaposed with explicit images of the 7 October attack, with the words: “Hamas: thank you Spain.”

Spain condemned the post as “scandalous and revolting”. Mr Katz posted similar videos about Ireland and Norway.

The row deepened when Spain’s deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Díaz, called publicly for Palestinian to be “free from the river to the sea”, a controversial phrase which many Israelis consider antisemitic and a call for the complete destruction of the state of Israel.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Katz hit back on Tuesday, comparing Ms Díaz to the Hamas commander, Mohamed Sinwar, and Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei. He told Mr Sánchez that if he did not fire his deputy, “you are participating in the incitement to commit genocide and war crimes against the Jewish people”.

Diplomats suspect that Israel has responded robustly towards Spain, Ireland and Norway to discourage other countries from following their lead.

Slovenia, Malta and Belgium have in recent months indicated they could recognise Palestine too. But Belgium’s government appears to have cooled on the idea ahead of elections.