Malta will officially recognise the state of Palestine at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session in September, Prime Minister Robert Abela announced. The decision comes in the wake of France’s recent declaration of support for Palestinian statehood.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday evening, Abela stated, “Our country’s position reflects our commitment to finding a lasting solution that ensures peace in the Middle East.”
His announcement follows a similar statement by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, signaling growing momentum within Europe in favor of Palestinian recognition.
Abela had initially planned to recognise Palestine in May and later targeted a declaration during a UN conference on Palestine in June. However, the conference was subsequently postponed.
The Maltese government has been under increasing internal pressure to make the recognition official. In mid-July, the center-right opposition party also called for immediate recognition of the Palestinian state.
The Mediterranean island nation has a longstanding history of supporting Palestinian interests and has consistently advocated for a two-state solution.
Malta’s move follows similar actions by Ireland, Norway, and Spain, which formally recognised Palestine as an independent state in May of this year.
