Gaza live: Gaza death toll rises to 35,80

The United Nations is looking at new routes within the besieged Gaza Strip to transport aid from a US-built floating pier, which remains unused since Saturday after opening on Friday last week.

"Crowds had stopped the trucks at various points along the way. There was... what I think I would refer to as self-distribution," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters in New York on Tuesday.

"These trucks were traveling through areas where there'd been no aid. I think people feared that they would never see aid. They grabbed what they could," he said.

A senior member of Hamas's political bureau, Bassem Naim, says it was down to the “brave resistance” of the Palestinian people that  Norway, Ireland and Spain were galvanised to recognise Palestine as a state on Wednesday.

“These successive recognitions are the direct result of this brave resistance and the legendary steadfastness of the Palestinian people,” Naim told AFP.

“We believe this will be a turning point in the international position on the Palestinian issue,” he added

The Palestinian ambassador to Ireland, Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, thanked the Irish government for its formal recognition of the state of Palestine. 

“I think it’s the time, it’s not just symbolic; it’s a recognition of our rights, of 13 million people, of Palestinian people to self-determination, and to live in peace and security in a sovereign state. That acknowledgment of recognition is highly welcomed by the Palestinian leadership. And, of course by all the Palestinians," said Abdalmajid speaking to RTE radio’s Morning Ireland. 

“What’s going on in Gaza at the minute and in the West Bank needs the international community to take action. This action, the recognition of the rights of the Palestinians ... gives hope to the Palestinians, that they are seen, they are heard. They are not alone, and the international community believes in their rights, to live in peace and security in their sovereign state," she added. 

In a post on X, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin says his country has laid out its “unambiguous support for the equal right to security, dignity, and self-determination for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples”.

Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary general of the executive committee of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), has praised the "historical moments in which the free world triumphs for truth and justice after long decades of Palestinian national struggle, suffering, pain, occupation, racism, murder, oppression, abuse and destruction to which the people of Palestine were subjected".

His comments come as Spain, Ireland and Norway announced that they will recognise Palestinian statehood.

“We thank the countries of the world that have recognised and will recognise the independent state of Palestine,” al-Sheikh added.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir arrived in occupied East Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque for the first time since the war started in October.

The move is highly provocative and comes as Ireland, Spain and Norway recognise Palestine as a state. 

Speaking to the congress on Wednesday, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his government would recognise the state of Palestine on 28 May following the lead set by Norway and Ireland. 

Sanchez said that his government rejected “the massacre in Gaza and the rest of the Palestinian territories”, calling for an end to the fighting and a two-state solution. 

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is still turning a blind eye and bombing hospitals, schools, homes,” said Sanchez. “He is still using hunger, cold and terror to punish more than a million innocent boys and girls – and things have gone so far that prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have this week sought his arrest for war crimes.”

Netanyahu had “no peace plan for Palestine”, the Spanish prime minister said. 

In other comments, he said: 

• Those countries that defend human rights and rule-based international law are obliged to act – in Ukraine and in Palestine – without double standards
• We’re obliged to do what we can: sending humanitarian aid, as we are; helping refugees and displaced people, as we are
• We also have to use all the political resources at our disposal to say, loud and clear, that we’re not going to allow the possibility of the two-state solution to be destroyed by force because it’s the only just and sustainable solution to this terrible conflict
• That is why I wish to inform you that after discussing the decision with the two parties that make up this progressive coalition government – and in keeping with the feelings of the majority of the Spanish people – Spain’s cabinet will approve the recognition of the Palestinian state on Tuesday 28 May

Oxfam Ireland CEO Jim Clarken said: “Ireland is showing real and brave leadership on the international stage and today’s move strongly reinforces our commitment to a two-state solution to this long-standing conflict.

“Ireland is demonstrating solidarity with the Palestinian people in the strongest political terms and the clock cannot now be turned back.

“Today’s move by Ireland and its allies should encourage other countries and the EU to join an unstoppable march to allow Palestine to take its rightful place as full, unquestioned members of the countries of the world,” he said.

"We recognise the state of Palestine," Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said in his opening remarks this morning.

Recognising the Palestinian people's aspirations to be living freely is "the right thing to do", he added. 

Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing the “most appalling hardship and suffering” Harris said, adding that Hamas had "nothing to offer".

Ireland recognises equally the right of Israel and Palestine to exist, Micheal Martin, the country's minister of foreign affairs, said.

"We recognise the state of Palestine just as we equally and resolutely recognise the state of Israel. This is not an endorsement of Hamas," Green party leader, Eamon Ryan, added alongside the other ministers.

When asked if other countries are considering recognising Palestine, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that other capitals beyond Ireland and Spain are reflecting on the question.

"My impression is that there is reflection going on in some more countries, but I will not go into detail on that. I think they will make their position known when they are ready to do so," he said.

"The United States have responded to us that they are not in a position or not ready to make that… recommendation. But they have understood, and they respect the decision we have taken," he added.

What did the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store say in explaining his government's reasons for recognising Palestine as a state?

He said:

• We must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike – two states, living side by side in peace and security
• Recognition of Palestine can strengthen the moderate forces in Palestine, those working for a two-state solution. It can also strengthen moderate forces on the Israeli side and it can provide hope for the future for Palestinians
• This also sends a strong message to other countries to follow the example of Norway, and a number of other European countries, and recognise the state of Palestine
• The ongoing war in Gaza has made it abundantly clear that achieving peace and stability must be predicated on resolving the Palestinian question
• The goal is to achieve a Palestinian state that is politically cohesive and that derives from the Palestinian Authority
• We believe the two-state solution is in Israel’s best interest

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has just announced that his country will also recognise the state of Palestine on 28 May.

The Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris is now speaking. 

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered a recall of his country's ambassadors to Ireland and Norway, citing the countries' decision to recognise a Palestinian state on Wednesday.

"I'm sending today a clear message," said Katz, "Israel won't overlook those who undercut its sovereignty and endanger its security."

The minister warned that the countries' "rash decisions" will have "other dire consequences", adding that similar steps would be taken if Spain follows suit.

In a press conference on Wednesday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store announced that his country will recognise an independent Palestinian state on 28 May.

"There cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition," Store said.