DUBLIN, May 15, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Ireland is certain to recognise Palestinian 
statehood by the end of May, the country's foreign minister said Wednesday, 
without specifying a date.

"We will be recognising the state of Palestine before the end of the month," 
Micheal Martin, who is also Ireland's deputy prime minister, told the 
Newstalk radio station.

In March the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovakia and Malta said in a joint 
statement that they stand ready to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Ireland has long said it has no objection in principle to officially 
recognising the Palestinian state if it could help the peace process in the 
Middle East.

But Israel's war against Hamas militants in Gaza has given the issue new 
impetus.

Last week EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Spain, Ireland and 
Slovenia planned to symbolically recognise a Palestinian state on May 21, 
with others potentially following suit.

But Ireland's Martin shied Wednesday from pinpointing a date.
"The specific date is still fluid because we're still in discussions with 
some countries in respect of a joint recognition of a Palestinian state," 
said Martin.

"It will become clear in the next few days as to the specific date but it 
certainly will be before the end of this month.

"I will look forward to consultations today with some foreign ministers in 
respect of the final specific detail of this."

Last month during a visit to Dublin by Spanish premier Pedro Sanchez, Irish 
Prime Minister Simon Harris said the countries would coordinate the move 
together.

"When we move forward, we would like to do so with as many others as possible 
to lend weight to the decision and to send the strongest message," said 
Harris.

The Gaza war followed Hamas's October 7 attack against Israel, which resulted 
in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli 
figures.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 35,000 people in Gaza, 
mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health 
ministry.