Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated that a solution to the war can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties concerned (Reuters)

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned - today, Monday - that the announcement by Spain, Malta, Slovenia and Ireland of their intention to recognize a Palestinian state is considered a “reward for terrorism,” as it claims.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lior Hayat, claimed in a tweet on the “X” platform that the commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state will only complicate the process of reaching a solution and increase regional instability.

For its part, Spain announced on Friday that it had agreed with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take the first steps towards recognizing the state declared by the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz said in press statements that recognizing the Palestinian state in the wake of last October 7 sends a message to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and other Palestinian organizations that attacks against Israelis will be met with political initiatives presented to the Palestinians. .

He also pointed out that a solution to the war could only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties concerned, and that any commitment to recognizing a Palestinian state would only increase the complexity of the situation and contribute to increasing instability in the region. Katz did not specify the type of solution required.

Israel, with its government made up of far-right pro-settlement extremists, has always rejected the idea of ​​establishing a Palestinian state.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been waging a devastating war on the Gaza Strip, which has so far resulted in the death of 32,226 Palestinians and the injury of 74,518 others, most of them children and women. The aggression also caused massive destruction of infrastructure, leaving an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe,” according to Palestinian and international reports.

Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters