Hamas praises Norway, Ireland and Spain for ‘Palestine’ state recognition as Israel recalls ambassadors

Following the announcement by the leaders of Norway, Ireland and Spain that they would recognize a Palestinian state starting May 28, Israel summoned its ambassadors from those countries in protest over what Foreign Minister Israel Katz deemed "a reward to Hamas."

The Hamas terrorist organization welcomed the countries' recognition of Palestinian statehood, describing it as “an important step on the way to establishing the Palestinians’ right to their land and establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

In addition, the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) each released statements celebrating the move.

“I am confident other countries will join us in the coming weeks,” said Ireland's youngest-ever prime minister, Simon Harris. He called the announcement “a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine.”

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said there could be no “peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.”

On Wednesday morning, Katz ordered the recall of the Israeli ambassadors to the three countries to protest what he termed the “Irish-Norwegian folly.”

“Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security. Today’s decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays,” Katz wrote on 𝕏.

“After the Hamas terror organization carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after committing heinous sexual crimes witnessed by the world, these countries chose to reward Hamas and Iran by recognizing a Palestinian state,” Katz continued.

“This distorted step by these countries is an injustice to the memory of the victims of October 7, a blow to efforts to return the 128 hostages, and a boost to Hamas and Iran’s jihadists, which undermines the chance for peace and questions Israel’s right to self-defense,” the Israeli foreign minister added.

In his announcement of the decision, Støre stated, “The terror has been committed by Hamas and militant groups who are not supporters of a two-state solution and the state of Israel.”

Harris said the belief in “freedom and justice” influenced his decision and that peace can only be secured by “the free will of a free people.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez addressed his country’s lower house calling the decision to recognize “Palestine” a vote for “for peace, for justice and for coherence.”

“Recognition is not just the end, it’s just the beginning,” he added, “This recognition is not an attack on anyone, neither a recognition against the Jewish people, nor is it in favor of Hamas.”

“Amid a tide of antisemitic, pro-Hamas demonstrations in their cities in recent months, the governments of Spain and Ireland are determined to reward Hamas for its October 7 atrocities by recognizing a Palestinian state,” Ben Cohen, a senior analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) said.

“Those EU member states, especially Germany, who understand that unilateral recognition is an obstruction to peace and a shameful appeasement of terrorism must now take action to arrest this process,” he added.

The Palestinian Authority responded to the announcement by Norway, Ireland and Spain by urging other European countries to also recognize Palestine “in order to achieve a two-state solution based on international resolutions and the 1967 borders.”

The PLO, a major component of the PA, also issued a statement commending the decision.

Hussein al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the PLO’s Executive Committee, said these are “historical moments in which the free world triumphs for truth and justice after long decades of Palestinian national struggle” adding, “This is the path to stability, security and peace in the region.”