Malta to Officially Recognize Palestinian State Next Month
Mosta (Quds News Network)- Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela has announced that his country will officially recognise the State of Palestine next month amid Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Speaking at a political event on Sunday, Abela condemned the deepening catastrophe in Gaza, where, he said, over 50,000 people have been killed during the ongoing Israeli genocide, according to reports.
“We cannot close our eyes to this human tragedy that is getting worse every day,” he said.
Abela indicated that the move will take place during next month’s French-Saudi conference promoting a two-state solution at the United Nations headquarters in New York, according to the English daily Times of Malta, describing the move as a “moral responsibility”.
During the event, the Prime Minister expressed Malta’s willingness to receive paediatrician Dr Alaa Al-Najjar and her family. While treating patients in a hospital in southern Gaza, Al-Najjar lost nine of her ten children to an Israeli strike, and her husband and son were critically wounded
Malta voted in April of last year for full Palestinian UN membership at the Security Council, but has yet to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Last year, amid Israel’s assault on Gaza, nine countries – Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados – formally recognised the State of Palestine, reflecting growing international support.
Currently, at least 146 UN member states recognise the State of Palestine.
The June conference is seen as a potential moment when states such as France and the UK that have yet to recognise Palestine take what would be a momentous diplomatic step.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, indicated last month that Paris may recognise Palestine, but said he wanted to do so at a UN conference in New York in June as part of a wider process.
The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has confirmed to parliament he has been in discussions with the French about recognition, but also said he would not simply support a gesture with no practical impact.
