Ireland

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Monday a U.N. court ruling telling Israel to stop its offensive in Gaza's Rafah must be implemented, as European ministers met Arab counterparts in Brussels.

Israel has continued to strike Rafah as its government has dismissed Friday's ruling from the International Court of Justice.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has stated that the international community's support for the Palestinian cause is growing and that more countries should recognize Palestine as a free state and act accordingly.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has told MPs that while he respects the decision of other countries to recognize Palestinian statehood, that move has been exploited by Hamas. 

The Contact Group, established by the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League, will travel to Brussels to hold talks with the European Union on the need for a permanent ceasefire in the Israeli-Hamas war and increasing humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians stranded in the enclave.

Two-thirds (66%) of Bulgarians support the idea of a common European Union defense and security policy. This level of support surpasses that of countries like Portugal, Sweden (which was recently non-aligned militarily), and traditionally neutral nations like Ireland and Austria.

Main SYRIZA opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis is set to visit the West Bank on May 26 - 27, reports say. 

Kasselakis will reportedly visit the city of Ramallah for meetings with officials of the Palestinian Authority. 

Further details regarding the visit's agenda and the SYRIZA members joining him are to be disclosed shortly.

Most Greek parliamentary parties are urging the New Democracy (ND) government to recognize Palestine, following the recent endorsements by Spain, Ireland and Norway for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict.

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.

Türkiye has been awarded the hosting rights for two major European football finals, the UEFA Executive Committee has announced.

In a meeting in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, on May 22, UEFA Executive Committee member Servet Yardımcı revealed that Istanbul will host the 2026 UEFA Europa League final and the 2027 UEFA European Conference League final.

President Biden has emphasized that the creation of a Palestinian state should occur through negotiations rather than unilateral recognition. This stance follows announcements from Spain, Ireland, and Norway indicating their plans to recognize Palestine later this month.