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Nearly eight months into the Israel-Hamas war, three countries are formalizing their support for a Palestinian state as the conflict and humanitarian crisis grows. Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced their joint decision on May 22, 2024, joining that formally support a Palestinian state, seven of which are also EU members.

Since the creation of Israel in 1947, the territory has been in dispute. Control over key areas including East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza has changed over many years and several wars. There have been numerous efforts to initiate a lasting peace process, including the signing of the in 1993 and 1995. While the Oslo Accords established limited Palestinian governance, they did not establish a definitive Palestinian state.

As of today, there has been no meaningful movement in the since 2009. The decision to formally support a Palestinian state offers both support for the Palestinian people in the current conflict and also support for an established Palestinian state in the future. To help understand why this recognition is significant, we asked SIS professor and Abdul Aziz Said Chair of International Peace and Conflict Resolution Mohammed Abu-Nimer to answer a few questions.

Ireland, Norway, and Spain recently announced that they would formally recognize a Palestinian state. What does this recognition mean?

This recognition has several implications for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. First, it reflects that there is a growing shift among such European countries that the current reality of Israeli occupation of Palestinian 1967 territories is not sustainable and must end. Second, this is a clear message that Palestinians must exercise their inherent right to self-determination and sovereignty within defined international boundaries. This puts pressure on Israel to recognize such borders and treat them as international borders. It also sends another clear message against any Israeli Zionist plans to annex the West Bank or launch new settlements in Gaza. This also confronts and rejects the current Israeli government’s discourse of the greater land of Israel and its refusal to accept any Palestinian state besides Israel. Third, this recognition is also a strong diplomatic response to the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, the mass killing of Palestinians, and the repeated threats by Israeli government officials to depopulate Gaza and prevent a Palestinian state in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Over 140 countries officially recognize a Palestinian state. Why do countries recognize Palestine, and why is this formal recognition important?

Every new recognition places more pressure on the United States and other Northern governments that continue to oppose such recognition. It diplomatically isolates those who do not recognize Palestine as a state. Beyond the symbolic importance of this recognition, there are certain practical implications. Recognition of the Palestinian state means full diplomatic relations will be created between these three states and the State of Palestine. Such a step will enhance the capacity of the Palestinian political leadership to further demand and expect to be treated as a sovereign state by these countries and others, too. Other practical implications include full recognition of Palestinian passports and all other diplomatic immunities associated with any sovereign state, which can be very helpful for many Palestinians who live in such states.

While other EU nations recognize Palestine, why is recognition from these three countries important? Does their recognition apply pressure to other countries?

These are important and influential European states. Spain and Ireland have certain economic and political weight in the European Union, too. Their endorsement of the Palestinian state increased the number of EU states to 11. In addition, Norway, even as a non-EU state, also has a significant role, especially as the host of the Oslo Accords in 1993. Their recognition will certainly add momentum and more pressure on other countries, like Germany, France, and Denmark, which have not yet recognized Palestine, to do so. Also, the greater the number of European countries that recognize Palestine, the more pressure will be placed on the United States to do so, due to its close relationship with such countries. Finally, this recognition is a blunt dismissal of the current Israeli government policies of war and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians and the assertion that only a two-state solution can bring sustainable peace to the region.