Armenia recognises State of Palestine.
In a significant diplomatic move, Armenia has officially recognized the State of Palestine, aligning itself with several other nations amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
This announcement, made on Friday, underscores Armenia’s commitment to international law, the principle of equality among nations, and the pursuit of long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.
“Confirming its commitment to international law, equality of nations, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence, the Republic of Armenia recognizes the State of Palestine,” the statement from Yerevan declared.
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Armenia’s government has strongly condemned the Israeli military’s actions in Gaza, criticizing the use of civilian infrastructure as shields and the resulting violence against civilian populations.
Additionally, Armenia has denounced Hamas for holding civilians captive and has joined international calls for their release.
“Armenia deplores using civilian infrastructure as shields during armed conflicts and violence towards civilian populations,” stated the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It also deplores Hamas for the captivity of civilian persons and joins the demands of the international community on freeing them.”
The recognition has been warmly received by Palestinian officials.
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Hussein Al-Sheikh, a senior official from the Palestinian Authority, hailed Armenia’s decision as a triumph for justice and the Palestinian people’s struggle for liberation and independence.
“This is a victory for right, justice, legitimacy, and the struggle of our Palestinian people for liberation and independence,” Al-Sheikh posted on social media. “Thank you, our friend Armenia.”
Armenia becomes the 149th state out of 193 countries that recognises the State of Palestine 🇦🇲🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/o6VXhyHYHh
— Ա 🇦🇲🇯🇴 (@arprek) June 21, 2024
As Armenia recognises State of Palestine, the Gaza conflict, ignited by Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel, has led to significant casualties.
According to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures, 1,194 people, primarily civilians, were killed in the initial attack.
In response, Israel’s retaliatory offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 37,431 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Armenia’s position is further complicated by its own geopolitical struggles, particularly its longstanding conflict with neighboring Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Israel’s role as a major arms supplier to Azerbaijan, which regained control of the disputed territory last year, adds a nuanced layer to Armenia’s stance on the Gaza conflict.
