Ireland officially recognized the Palestinian state

Ireland officially recognized the Palestinian state and called on Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to "listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip.
"This decision by Ireland is about preserving hope," Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said shortly after the decision was made official at a cabinet meeting, AFP reported. 
"We wanted to recognize Palestine at the end of the peace process, but we made this move together with Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive," he added.
The declarations by the three countries drew a furious response from the Israeli government, which said it was rewarding Hamas for the October 7 attack.
Dublin said it recognized Palestine as a "sovereign and independent state" and agreed to establish full diplomatic relations.
An Irish ambassador will be appointed, as well as a full-fledged Irish embassy in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority.
Irish Foreign Minister Michelle Martin said the decision "expresses our belief that the political way is the only way" to move forward.
"This will break the cycle of dispossession, subjugation, dehumanization, terrorism and death that has blighted the lives of Israelis and Palestinians for decades," said Ireland's top diplomat.
"Prospects for lasting peace have never been more at risk, and it is imperative that we act now, together with our like-minded people, to protect the viability of the two-state solution," added Martin./BGNES