“Be in no doubt, recognition of a Palestinian State will happen.”

Ireland is expected to formally recognise Palestinian statehood shortly, Micheál Martin, Minister for Foreign Affairs has told the Dáil. Martin has stated that delaying the recognition of a Palestinian state “is not credible or tenable any longer”.

The formal recognition of Palestinian Statehood is expected to happen once a peace initiative is fully underway. No official date has been set and officials are reluctant to set a deadline, but sources speaking to the Irish Times have confirmed that it will be “sooner rather than later”, and expected within weeks rather than months.

Ireland’s recognition of Palestinian statehood has been in the works for a while now. “For the past six months I have maintained ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues in other countries about how a joint formal recognition of Palestinian statehood could be a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank and in furthering an Arab-led peace initiative,” said Mr Martin.

Last month, former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met with prime ministers from Malta, Spain and Slovenia, after which all four countries issued a collective statement declaring their “readiness to recognise Palestine”, but noting that it will only be done “when it can make a positive contribution and the circumstances are right.”

New Taoiseach Simon Harris has issued strong verbal statements on Israel’s actions in Gaza, stating “We’re seeing children being maimed and killed, innocent children. It is disgusting, it is despicable and it must stop.” Only time will tell if Harris’s will take formal action, supporting his condemnation of Israel.

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