Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly criticized Ireland, Spain, and Norway for their decision to recognize Palestinian statehood following the Oct. 7 attacks. He described this recognition as a “reward for terrorism” and stated that allowing a Palestinian state would effectively be supporting terrorism. Netanyahu insisted that such a move would not bring peace and would not stop Israel from defeating Hamas.
Ireland, Spain, and Norway announced their plans to recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, which was seen as a symbolic but historic decision. This came at a time when the International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor had already revealed intentions to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his defense minister, and the International Court of Justice was considering allegations of genocide against Israel. In response, Israel recalled its ambassadors to the three countries and accused them of rewarding Hamas for triggering the war with the Oct. 7 attack.
The Oct. 7 attack involved Hamas terrorists storming across the border, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and the taking of 250 hostages. Netanyahu’s government claimed that 80% of Palestinians in Judea and Samaria supported this attack, further emphasizing their stance against recognizing a Palestinian state. The Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz went as far as to say that Spain, Norway, and Ireland were essentially awarding “a gold medal to Hamas murderers and rapists” by recognizing an independent Palestinian state.
Amidst ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, the recognition of a Palestinian state by Ireland, Spain, and Norway added fuel to the fire. The ICC prosecutor was seeking arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders in connection to the Oct. 7 attack, further complicating the situation. Netanyahu emphasized that rewarding terrorism in any form, including through state recognition, would not lead to peace and vowed to continue Israel’s efforts to defeat Hamas.
With tensions escalating and accusations being thrown from both sides, the recognition of Palestinian statehood by European countries became a point of contention. Netanyahu’s strong condemnation and accusations of rewarding terrorism added another layer of complexity to the already volatile situation. As the conflict between Israel and Hamas continued, the decision to recognize a Palestinian state by Ireland, Spain, and Norway became a significant development with far-reaching implications.
