Portugal to recognize Palestine state

This declaration comes just ahead of an international conference on Palestine scheduled to take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed on Friday that the official recognition statement would be issued prior to the conference.

Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel indicated last week that Portugal was considering this significant step, marking a notable shift in the country’s foreign policy.

Unlike its neighbor Spain, which has taken a more assertive stance on recognizing Palestine, Portugal has opted for a cautious approach. However, the Portuguese government has expressed its intention to first coordinate with other European Union countries to achieve a unified position on the matter.

Portugal’s decision follows a wave of recognition from several European nations. In May 2024, Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, officially recognized Palestine and encouraged other EU member states to do the same. Countries such as Sweden and Cyprus had previously acknowledged Palestinian statehood and reports suggest that France and other European nations are expected to announce their recognition in the coming days.

The push for international recognition of Palestine has been fueled by widespread outrage over the Israeli military’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli regime has conducted a genocidal war, resulting in over 65,000 deaths and more than 165,000 injuries, with a significant number of casualties being women and children.