UPDATES WITH MORE STATEMENTS
By Betul Yilmaz and Aysar Alais
ISTANBUL / RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - Palestine hailed on Sunday the official recognition of its statehood by several countries ahead of the UN General Assembly meetings, saying the move would protect the two-state solution and achieve peace.
In a statement, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry expressed gratitude to the UK, Canada, and Australia for their “courageous decisions” to officially recognize the state of Palestine, which came “in line with international law and legitimate UN resolutions.”
The ministry called the recognition “an acknowledgment of the just and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, and ensures the protection of the two-state solution from the continued crimes of genocide, starvation, displacement, and annexation” committed by Israel.
President Mahmoud Abbas also welcomed the Western recognition of statehood as “a crucial and necessary step on the path to achieving just and lasting peace, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions.”
“The recognition of the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, freedom, and independence will pave the way for the implementation of the two-state solution,” Abbas said in a statement carried by the official news agency Wafa.
Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh expressed gratitude for the three countries over their recognition, which he called “an international victory for justice, rights, and for those who suffer displacement and oppression.”
“A historic day in the lives of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights. This is the fruit of your patience, steadfastness, perseverance, and sacrifices,” Sheikh said on the US social media company X.
UN investigators recently concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, where nearly 65,300 people have been killed since October 2023.
Around three-quarters of UN member states already recognize Palestine, with Ireland, Spain, and Norway having formalized recognition last year.