VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta has officially conveyed its intention to recognize the State of Palestine. The message was delivered during a UN conference in New York on Friday. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, made the announcement. He spoke at the High-Level Conference on the Two-State Solution.
Malta joined 14 other nations backing recognition of Palestinian statehood. The countries urged broader recognition and normalized relations with Israel. They called for a regional security framework including both states. This development follows Prime Minister Robert Abela’s announcement on Thursday.
He said Malta will formalize recognition at the UN General Assembly in September. The Maltese Parliament also debated the issue in a dedicated session. Parliament discussed Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis during the debate.
Aid groups estimate 500 truckloads of supplies are needed daily in Gaza. Prime Minister Abela stressed the need for international action and a ceasefire.
Abela said the move was coordinated with France and the UK. He called recognition a moral and strategic step toward peace.
“No one should die from hunger, poverty, or fear,” he said. He also demanded the immediate release of all Israeli hostages. Abela said Malta’s action aims to support a two-state solution.
Opposition Leader Bernard Grech welcomed the decision but criticized the delay.
He recalled that recognition had originally been promised in June. “Every day we wait, more lives are lost,” Grech told Parliament.
He called for immediate recognition instead of waiting for September. Abela defended the timeline, citing international coordination for greater impact.
Malta’s recognition of Palestine is expected during the UN Assembly in September. It marks a clear shift in the country’s foreign policy stance on the conflict.
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