![A boy waves a Palestinian flag in Barcelona, Spain, on January 20, 2024, at a protest in support of Palestinians and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza [Emilio Morenatti/AP Photo]](/Uploads/Images/News/2024/5/Image-2443-20240529070415.jpeg)
Ireland, Norway and Spain recognise Palestine. What has that changed?
Now 146 out of 193 UN members recognise Palestine, but what does that mean for Palestinians?
Ireland, Norway and Spain have recognised Palestine as an independent state.
What is left of historical Palestine lies divided between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip, upon which Israel is waging a nearly eight-month-long war, killing more than 36,000 people.
Palestinians across Gaza and the West Bank have expressed optimism and pride in their country and their cause being recognised more widely.
What does recognition mean for Palestine?
Spain, Ireland and Norway did not recognise an existing state, just the possibility of one.
The move will see increased diplomatic relations between the Palestinian Authority and the three countries.
All have announced that they will recognize Palestine according to the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Dublin has said it will upgrade both the Palestinian mission in Dublin and its own offices in Palestine to embassies while Oslo and Madrid have already done so.
The hope is that the symbolism will boost Palestine’s international standing and put more pressure on Israel to open negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The move has already spurred Slovenia, which is expected to recognise Palestine by June 13.
Given Ireland’s and Spain’s European Union memberships, it is also hoped the move will put the status of Palestine firmly on the agenda during the June 6-9 EU elections.
![Palestinians demonstrate in support of the Palestinian bid for recognition at the UN on September 21, 2011, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank [Uriel Sinai/Getty Images]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/2011111213039149734_9.jpeg?w=680&resize=680%2C284&quality=80)
How many countries in the world recognise Palestine?
Of the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly, 143 had recognised Palestine previously.
Tuesday’s recognitions are the strongest indication yet that the idea may be gaining traction in the economically and diplomatically powerful Western European states.
With the countries recognising Palestine on Tuesday, what is the total now?
Ireland’s, Norway’s and Spain’s moves to recognise Palestine brings the total number of states doing so to 146.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said at a news conference on Tuesday that the move is “the only way of advancing towards what everyone recognises as the only possible solution to achieve a peaceful future, one of a Palestinian state that lives side by side with the Israeli state in peace and security”.
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