Update: ACLJ Demands Norway, Ireland, Spain, and Slovenia Retract Dangerous Recognition of Hamas-Run State of "Palestine"

We have sent a letter to the foreign ministers of Norway, Ireland, and Spain, condemning their misguided recognition of a Palestinian state.

These countries could not have chosen a worse time to make such a decision. To say that such a decision lacks any legal basis and “rewards” terrorist organizations, such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), would be to severely understate its gravity and repercussions. Norway’s, Ireland’s, and Spain’s decisions have already encouraged and empowered these terrorist groups to continue acting on their clearly stated and demonstrated intent to destroy Israel and to continue their barbaric attacks on innocent Israeli men, women, children, and the elderly.

Our letter stated:

While Norway[, Ireland, and Spain’s] sentiment to support the “peace process” behind this decision is understandable given that [they] care[] about human life, it will inevitably make the process worse, because, as should have been made clear to [these states] on October 7, 2023, Hamas and the [Palestinian Authority] do not care about human life. It is surprising that Norway, [Ireland, and Spain] with [their] moral and legal values, did not understand Hamas’s clearly visible plan but [have] instead played into Hamas’s hands. The scale and kind of brutalities Hamas and other terrorist groups from the Gaza Strip committed on October 7, including continuing to hold hostages, clearly show that their intention was to invite a largescale armed response from Israel. By actively hiding in civilian areas and conducting operations from civilian facilities, Hamas not only knew about the potential civilian casualties but wanted such casualties to occur. Their plan was to garner the kind of misguided support Norway[, Ireland, and Spain have] just given.

We informed these countries that after their announcement regarding recognizing a Palestinian state, a senior member of the Hamas political bureau, Bassem Naim, stated: “These successive recognitions are the direct result of this brave resistance and the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people.” Naim’s reference to “brave resistance” does not mean peacefully living side by side with the State of Israel within the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Hamas’ “brave resistance” means the total destruction of the Jewish state. Hamas leadership continues to celebrate the “brave resistance” they displayed on October 7.

Our letter also expresses our regret about how the world has seemingly already forgotten the brutal murders, rapes, mutilations, and horrific acts of torture Hamas committed on October 7. The letter also expressed that the world has abandoned the Israeli hostages still under Hamas’ control. Each one of these acts constitutes a war crime, crime against humanity, and genocide. Instead, the world is focused on incidental civilian casualties—a sad result of Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israeli civilians, not to mention that the civilians in Gaza are put in harm’s way by Hamas’ hiding in and conducting operations from civilian areas, a separate war crime.

We informed Norway, Ireland, and Spain of a better strategy:

If states . . . were instead focused on pressuring Hamas to release the hostages, they would be on better ground to a call for a peaceful resolution of the overall Israeli-Palestinian conflict. . . . It is not unfathomable that if Hamas releases the hostages, Israel would be forced to pause the hostilities, and states . . . would be in a better position to talk about a peaceful resolution. To expect that recognizing a Palestinian state in response to brutal murders, mutilations, and rapes of civilians would bring about peace displays a lack of sound judgment.

We have told Norway, Ireland, and Spain that until Palestinians negotiate in good faith, unequivocally denounce Hamas and other terrorist organizations that are bent on eliminating Jews and Israel, acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, and the terrorist organizations stop targeting defenseless civilians and cease committing war crimes against both Israelis and their fellow Palestinians in Gaza, any recognition of a Palestinian state will make countries complicit in the serious crimes the terrorist organizations are committing.

We hope these countries will realize that, by conducting a brutal and barbaric attack on Israeli civilians, Hamas’ plan was to invite a massive military response from Israel. By inviting such a response and, at the same time, by deliberately putting Gazans in harm’s way, Hamas’ plan was to demonize Israel. By demonizing Israel, Hamas’ plan was to lead the international community to recognize a Palestinian state. This nefarious and deadly terrorist ploy for statehood must never be allowed to stand.

UPDATE: 06.07.2024 – The ACLJ just sent a fourth demand letter to Slovenia’s Foreign Minister. Unfortunately, this country also voiced support for a terrorist-run state of “Palestine.”

We pointed out that Slovenia’s intention to resolve the conflict in Gaza by recognizing Palestinian statehood is “far from realistic.” We wrote: “Such desire understandably arises from Slovenia’s care about human life. Unfortunately, Hamas and other terrorist groups operating in Gaza do not care about human life.” The horrific events on October 7 proved that Hamas is an evil organization that must be stopped.

The ACLJ will continue to hold other nations accountable if they voice support for Hamas and a state of “Palestine” while Palestinian terrorists wage war on Israel. Israel’s enemies must never be rewarded for their acts of evil.