Rep. Dean Phillips listens during a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on March 19, 2024. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris – who took office just last month following Leo Eric Varadkar’s sudden resignation – announced at a press conference on Wednesday that Ireland, Norway and Spain will "recognize the state of Palestine" on May 28 and "each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision."
"I’m confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks," he said. "This is a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine."
On Jan. 22, 1919, "Ireland asked the world to recognize our right to be an independent state," Harris said. "Our message to the free nations of the world was a plea for international recognition of our independence, emphasizing our distinct national identity, our historical struggle and our right to self-determination and justice. Today we use the same language to support the recognition of Palestine as a state. We do because we believe in freedom and justice as these fundamental principles of international law. And because we believe that permanent peace can only be secured upon the basis of the free will of a free people."
Harris also released a video message defending the decision.
"Children are innocent. The children of Israel, the children of Palestine, they deserve peace," he began. "It is long past time for a cease-fire, for the unconditional release of hostages, for unhindered access for humanitarian aid. There should be no further military incursion into Rafah. There should be no more Hamas or Hezbollah rockets fired at Israel."
A child waves a Palestinian flag as demonstrators march during a protest calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, in Barcelona, Spain, on Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti, File)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also announced the decision before parliament on Wednesday.
"This recognition is not against anyone, it is not against the Israeli people," he said. "It is an act in favor of peace, justice and moral consistency."
Other users on X slammed Sánchez for recognizing a Palestinian state, but not granting Catalonia's independence.
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Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told The Associated Press that while the country has supported the establishment of a Palestinian state for decades, recognition is "a card that you can play once."
"We used to think that recognition would come at the end of a process," he said. "Now we have realized that recognition should come as an impetus, as a strengthening of a process."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
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