Portugal has officially launched the process of recognizing the State of Palestine, with the aim of finalizing this decision by September, the Portuguese government announced on Thursday. This move is seen as a response to key regional and international developments surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
According to the government’s statement, the decision comes after the Palestinian Authority provided assurances regarding several key commitments, while a number of Arab states have expressed readiness to normalize relations with Israel.
A major factor influencing Portugal’s stance is the “deeply troubling” humanitarian and political situation in the Gaza Strip, which continues to deteriorate due to the ongoing war.
The expected recognition of Palestinian statehood is anticipated to take place during the United Nations General Assembly in September, as mentioned in the statement published by CNN.
Portugal’s announcement follows a joint summit organized by Saudi Arabia and France in New York, where discussions focused on a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the implementation of the two-state solution.
Notably, for the first time in such a diplomatic forum, Arab and Muslim countries issued a united call for Hamas to disarm and relinquish control over Gaza, as part of a broader effort to end the war and advance the peace process.
