Ireland, Norway and Spain say they will recognize a Palestinian state in the coming days.

Leaders of the three countries made coordinated announcements to support a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said he expects other European countries to follow with recognition.

"This is an historic and important day," Harris said at a news conference.

Israel quickly recalled its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway in response to the move.

"Today's decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said. "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."

I have instructed the immediate recall of Israel’s ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of these countries' decisions to recognize a Palestinian state.

I’m sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the…

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 22, 2024

 

Katz said the recognition is an "injustice to the memory of the victims" of the Oct. 7 attacks and would undermine the chances of the return of the remaining hostages.

Several other European countries have indicated that they plan to recognize a Palestinian state as the best chance of peace in the Middle East.

The three countries said the recognition would take place on May 28.

Top Hamas political official Khalil al-Hayya previously said his militant group would be willing to lay down their arms and convert into a political party if an independent Palestinian state would be established along its pre-1967 borders as part of a two-state solution. 

Some 140 of 190 represented in the U.N. countries have already recognized Palestine, the Associated Press reported.