The Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris and the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, have both indicated that the official recognition of Palestine as a state by a cluster of six European nations is nearing. The pair had a thirty-minute conversation at the Government Buildings last Friday, where the Gaza conflict remained the focal point of their discussion.
Mr Harris stated post-discussion that several European Union members had concurred the previous month to acknowledge Palestine once the circumstances were fitting. He claimed that this time was approaching quickly, and their preference was to move in unison. He voiced support for the Palestinian peoples’ pleas for their country’s dignity and sovereignty.
Mr Harris further said that successive actions must involve as broad a coalition as possible before ultimately presenting a decision to the Israeli populace. The Taoiseach extended that the Palestinians warranted just as much sovereignty and esteem as others. He commented, ‘In an area where peace unifies individuals of diverse faiths and customs, I trust we all aspire to this.’ He stood firm against Israeli backlash claiming it was legitimising Hamas, and reiterated his earlier condemnation of Hamas’s October 7th strike and kidnapping.
Similarly, Mr Sánchez echoed these sentiments but was unable to provide an exact timeline. Both leaders made it clear that any advancement would necessitate a ceasefire and peace negotiations.
In response to allegations of legitimising Hamas, and the subsequent strong critique from Israel, Mr Harris maintained that it’s feasible to condemn the suffering endured by Israel due to Hamas’s actions while also advocating for a sudden end to violence. He added that the appalling conditions in Gaza, characterised by starvation, dehydration, mutilation and civilian deaths alongside the destruction of essential establishments such as hospitals and schools, must be put to an end. Mr Harris concluded by asserting the only viable route forward is through political dialogue leading to a two-state resolution.