Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday that Spain officially recognizes Palestine as a state, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, unified under the Palestinian National Authority, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In his televised address, Sánchez stated that Spain would not accept any changes to Palestinian borders established post-1967 unless agreed upon by all parties involved.
Sánchez emphasized that recognizing Palestine is “essential for achieving peace” in the Middle East. After announcing this decision in parliament last week, Sánchez has spent months visiting European and Middle Eastern countries to garner support for this recognition and for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Ireland and Norway are also set to officially recognize Palestine today, a move that Israel has criticized as a “reward” for Hamas amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict. These European nations believe their decision will have significant symbolic value and could inspire other countries to take similar actions.
Spain and Norway’s involvement in Israel-Palestinian peace efforts dates back to the historic 1991 Madrid peace conference, which led to the 1993 Oslo Accords, showcasing their longstanding commitment to the peace process.
Meanwhile, Canada announced plans to issue temporary visas to 5,000 Gaza residents through a special program for relatives of Canadian citizens living in the area. This figure represents an increase from the 1,000 visas initially offered under a similar program launched in December. The immigration ministry stated that many had expressed interest in the visas.
Immigration Minister Marc Miller emphasized the importance of this preparatory measure, stating, “While movement out of Gaza is not currently possible, the situation may change at any time. With this cap increase, we will be ready to help more people as the situation evolves.”
