Norway

Spain, Ireland and Norway are formally recognizing a Palestinian state on Tuesday in a decision slammed by Israel as a "reward" for Hamas more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war.

The three European countries believe their initiative has strong symbolic impact, which is likely to encourage others to follow suit.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday that Spain would initiate the process of recognizing a Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, as reported by Reuters. Sanchez stated that the government would formally approve the recognition later in the day, encompassing the Gaza Strip and the West Bank within the borders until 1967.

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.

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.

Norway has announced a further restriction on the access of Russian tourists due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to statements from the Norwegian Ministry of Justice cited by Reuters. As a NATO member sharing a nearly 200 km border with Russia in the Arctic, Oslo previously tightened visa regulations for Russian tourists in 2022.