That's it - we're getting a new country? Urgent response

At the session of the Congress that started at 9 o'clock, Pedro Sánchez spoke about the recognition of Palestine right at the beginning of the session.

"The time has come to move from words to actions. We will defend the Palestinian state for the sake of coherence. We defend the same decision in Ukraine and Palestine," said Sanchez.

This sentence was followed by a big round of applause in the Congress of Spain, primarily from representatives of the left, that is, the Socialist Workers' Party and the Sumar movement.

As in the case of Norway and Ireland, the recognition will become final on May 28.

"It is necessary to maintain the idea of two states. Netanyahu turns a deaf ear and punishes the population with hunger and terror. Netanyahu has no peace project for Palestine," said Sanchez.

The first to hold a press conference today were politicians from Norway, and the prime minister said that the recognition of Palestine is a necessary step towards peace.

"In the midst of war, with tens of thousands dead and wounded, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians. Two states that can live in peace with each other," Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre said.

After Norway, the next country to announce that it would recognize the independent state of Palestine was Ireland. Prime Minister Simon Harris has commented on reports that his country will join Norway and Spain in taking action.

"I stood here a few weeks ago with the Prime Minister of Spain. That moment has come. Today Ireland recognizes the State of Palestine. We will take the national steps necessary to make the decision final. I look forward to other countries joining us in the coming weeks. This is a historic moment for Ireland, but also for Palestine. We believe in freedom and justice. We believe that lasting peace is only possible through the free will of free people," he said on a press conference.

Urgent response arrived

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs released today, before the announcement of the recognition of the Palestinian state, a video message to Dublin on the X social network to warn them of the fact that "by recognizing the Palestinian state they risk being transformed into a pawn in the hands of Iran and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas".

This measure "will only encourage extremism and instability", according to Israeli diplomacy.

Most of the 193 UN member states - 145, according to the Palestinian Authority - have so far recognized a Palestinian state.

"Today's decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world - terrorism pays. After the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after they committed heinous sexual crimes witnessed by the world, these countries decided to reward Hamas and Iran by recognizing Palestinian state," said the Israeli foreign minister.

"It is an injustice to the memory of the victims of October 7, a blow to attempts to return the 128 hostages and an encouragement to Hamas and Iranian jihadists, which undermines the opportunity for peace and calls into question Israel's right to self-defense", Israeli foreign minister, Israel Katz added, as reported by the BBC.