Israeli Prime Minister Criticizes The Intentions Of Three European Countries To Recognize Palestine

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu/PHOTO via Instagram @b.netanyahu

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the announcement of three European countries that would recognize the Palestinian state.

According to Netanyahu, the move was a "gift to terrorism", referring to the Hamas attack on October 7 last year.

"The intention of several European countries to recognize the Palestinian state is a gift for terrorism and will not bring peace," Netanyahu said in a recording of his speech at X.

He accused the Palestinian state in question of becoming a terrorist state, and emphasized that his government would not approve of the policy.

Netanyahu also stressed that recognition of the Palestinian state would not stop Israel's efforts to defeat Hamas.

Since the end of 2022, Israel has been controlled by a far-right government led by Netanyahu, the leader of the Likud Party, which vehemently opposes the discussion of the formation of a Palestinian state.

The official recognition of Palestine as a country by Norway, Ireland and Spain will take effect on May 28, 2024.

Palestine has been recognized by eight other European countries, namely Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden, and the Greek Cypriot government.

The admission comes as Israel continues its brutal attacks on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, despite UN Security Council resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave.

More than 35,700 Palestinians have been killed and nearly 80,000 others injured since last October, after Israel launched a retaliatory attack on Hamas.

More than seven months after Israel's war, much of Gaza's territory was destroyed by the blockade of access to food, clean water, and medicines.

Israel is accused of committing genocide at the International Court. The Court ordered Israel to ensure that its troops did not commit genocide in Gaza, and guaranteed that humanitarian aid be given to civilians in Gaza.