Spanish PM vows to work for Palestine's full UN membership

According to Al Jazeera, some European Union member states, including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Republic of Malta, support the recognition of an independent Palestinian state and expressed their readiness to cooperate in this regard.

Sánchez had also met his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre to gain support for the recognition of the Palestinian state.

He also raised the issue of the formation of an independent Palestinian state during his visit to Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar last week and told reporters that Spain would recognize Palestine as a country by the end of June.

If the international community does not recognize Palestine, it will not help to form an independent Palestinian state, he added.

Earlier on April 13, Støre said that Oslo is ready to recognize Palestine as an independent state.

He noted that his government has not yet determined a firm timetable, but Norway will coordinate with "like-minded countries" to speed up efforts to recognize the Palestinian state.

In November, Norway's parliament approved a government proposal to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

Although the EU did not support the move to recognize the Palestinian state unanimously, Ireland and Spain have repeatedly announced their readiness since the onset of war in Gaza.

MNA/PR