EU's Borrell: Recognising Palestinian State Not a Gift to Hamas

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell clarified that recognising a Palestinian state is not an endorsement of Hamas. Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced their recognition to halt Israel's Gaza offensive and revive peace talks. Borrell emphasized the distinction between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Friday said that recognising a Palestinian state was not a gift to Hamas. Ireland, Norway and Spain said on Wednesday they would recognise a Palestinian state on May 28, to help secure a halt to Israel's Gaza offensive after the Hamas attack on Oct.7 and revive peace talks that stalled a decade ago.

"Recognising the Palestinian state is not a gift to Hamas, quite the contrary," he said. "The Palestinian authority is not Hamas, on the contrary they are deeply confronted." He added the EU already talked, financed and met the Palestinian authority.

"Every time someone makes the decision to support a Palestinian state, ... the reaction of Israel is to transform it in an antisemitic attack," he added.