Portugal is considering recognizing a Palestinian state, according to a press statement released by the office of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro.
According to the press bulletin, the Portuguese government will consult with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the country’s Parliament about the prospect of recognizing Palestine during the UN’s 80th general assembly in September in New York.
Portugal’s decision comes on the heels of three other countries, Canada, the UK, and France, announcing their intentions to recognize a Palestinian state in New York.
The decision was reached following a series of contacts with partners and, most importantly, taking into account the “extremely concerning development of the conflict, both at a humanitarian level and following repeated allusions about the possible annexation of Palestinian territory by Israel.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa stated that the government had engaged in a thorough and assiduous process following talks with its European partners and other allies.
The Portuguese government’s press release came in the wake of an international organization monitoring global famine, which is supported by the UN, concluding that the “worst famine scenario was playing out in Gaza.”
