Palestinian Flag Flies Outside Irish Parliament: Formal Recognition of Palestinian State
The Irish Government has raised the Palestinian flag outside Leinster House, Irish Parliament’s headquarters, marking the formal recognition of the State of Palestine, reported BBC.
“I hope it sends the Palestinian people a message of hope that in this, their darkest hour, Ireland stands with them,” said the Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
Ireland has also agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.
Furthermore, the Irish Government will appoint an Irish Ambassador to the State of Palestine with a formal embassy of Ireland in Ramallah.
“We wanted to recognize Palestine at the end of a peace process however we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive. I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza,” Harris stated.
This diplomatic move came after Spain had formally recognized a Palestinian State within the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Spain’s historic move came after Israel’s airstrike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah that killed at least 45 people and wounded 200 others.
The incident has sparked international condemnations as it came days after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its military operations in Rafah. Consequently, several humanitarian organizations have called on the UN Security Council to enforce the court’s orders.
The recognition of Palestine by Spain, Ireland and Norway has increased the diplomatic pressure on Israel especially after two international courts ordered Israel to immediately halt its operations in Southern Gaza and accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing war crimes.
As a response, Israel has withdrawn its ambassadors from Ireland, Norway and Spain and formally reprimanded their envoys in Tel Aviv.
Related Topics:
Spain Officially Recognizes Palestinian State With East Jerusalem As Capital
Israeli Airstrikes Kill Dozens in Rafah, Spark Int’l Condemnations
Saudi Arabia Welcomes World Court Order to ‘Immediately Halt’ Rafah Offensive
