Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela announced that his country will officially recognise the State of Palestine following a summit on June 20, citing moral obligations amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza that has claimed nearly 54,000 Palestinian lives.
The decision comes after a tragic incident in Khan Younis, where nine children of Palestinian paediatrician Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Abela offered to welcome the surviving doctor and family members to Malta. While Malta has maintained a Representative Office in the Palestinian territories since 2009, facilitating educational and cultural exchanges, this recognition marks a significant diplomatic shift. The office currently oversees scholarship programs and provides consular services to Maltese citizens.
Malta joins a growing list of nations recognising Palestinian statehood, becoming the latest of 147 UN member states to do so. Nine countries, including Ireland, Spain, and Norway, have extended recognition in 2024 alone. Notable G20 members, including Brazil, China, and Russia, have already recognised Palestine. The recognition encompasses the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem as part of a sovereign Palestinian state.
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