The Republic of Armenia announced today, Friday, its official recognition of the State of Palestine, while the Palestinian presidency welcomed the decision from Yerevan, affirming that it is an important step towards achieving peace and stability in the region, while Israel summoned the Armenian ambassador to Tel Aviv to protest the recognition of the Palestinian state.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry stated in a statement that the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and the ongoing military conflict are among the key issues on the international political agenda that require a solution.

The Armenian Foreign Ministry expressed its firm rejection of "targeting civilian infrastructure, violence against civilians, and the detention of civilians as hostages and their families during armed conflict, and joins the demands of the international community for their unconditional release."

It continued: "We have persistently called, at various international forums, for a peaceful and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue and support for the two-state principle to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We are convinced that this is the only way to ensure that Palestinians and Israelis can achieve their legitimate aspirations."

The Armenian Foreign Ministry emphasized that Yerevan (the capital) joined the United Nations General Assembly resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling for "the establishment of peace and stability in the Middle East, and the establishment of lasting reconciliation between the Jewish and Palestinian peoples."

For its part, the Palestinian presidency welcomed Armenia's decision to recognize the State of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, expressing great appreciation for this brave and important decision, which is considered a step towards strengthening bilateral relations and achieving peace and stability in the region.

The presidency noted that the Armenian decision comes as a "contribution from countries that believe in the two-state solution as an option that follows the will and international legitimacy as a strategic choice, and contributes to rescuing this solution which is facing systematic destruction, and also contributes to achieving security, peace, and stability for all."

The presidency urged the countries of the world, especially European countries that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine, to do so based on international legitimacy decisions and along the lines of 1967, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

In contrast, Israeli media reported that the Foreign Ministry summoned the Armenian ambassador to Tel Aviv to protest against his country's recognition of the Palestinian state.

Spain, Ireland, and Norway are among Western countries that have formally recognized a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to withdraw its ambassadors from Madrid, Dublin, and Oslo last month.

Assistance to Gaza
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan confirmed last March that his country would provide, with the help of Egypt, about 30 tons of humanitarian assistance that the Palestinians desperately need in Gaza.