Spain, Ireland and Norway said Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, a step toward a long-held Palestinian aspiration that came amid international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s offensive. Currently, seven members of the 27-nation European Union officially recognize a Palestinian state. Five of them are former east bloc countries who announced recognition in 1988, as did Cyprus, before joining the bloc. Sweden announced recognition in 2014. As this unprecedented move increases momentum for the recognition of a Palestinian state by other EU countries, FRANCE 24's François Picard is joined by Hala Abou Hassira, Ambassador, Head of the Mission of Palestine to France.
