Palestine state recognized by European trio

The recognition of the state of Palestine by more European countries points to wider support for a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis, though Israel, in defiance, continues to block aid to people in Gaza while continuing its bombings.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Wednesday that Spain will recognize Palestinian statehood, Xinhua News Agency reported.

On the same day, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris also said their respective countries "will recognize a Palestinian state".

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomed Norway, Spain and Ireland's recognition of the state of Palestine, WAFA News Agency reported.

In a statement, it said that with this "important step", these countries "once again showed their firm commitment to the two-state solution and achieving long-awaited justice for the Palestinian people".

It also stressed that the recognitions "come in line with international law and all relevant United Nations resolutions", which, in turn, "will contribute positively to all international efforts aimed at ending the illegal Israeli occupation and achieving peace and stability in the region".

Israel said immediately that it was recalling its envoys to Dublin, Oslo and Madrid for "urgent consultations" and also summoned the three European ambassadors for a rebuke.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz charged that "the twisted step of these countries is an injustice to the memory of the 7/10 victims".

"They decided to award a gold medal to the murderers and rapists of Hamas."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll from Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 35,000 while injuring more than 79,000 since the deadly Hamas attack on Oct 7 that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and about 200 others held hostage, health authorities in the Palestinian enclave said on Monday.

China always firmly supports the just cause of the Palestinian people in restoring their legitimate national rights, supports the two-state solution and is one of the first countries to recognize the state of Palestine, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday.

China called for an immediate cease-fire to end the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and return to the right track of political settlement to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution as soon as possible, Wang said.

China will continue to work with the international community to play a constructive role to put an early end to the Palestine-Israel conflict and bring a comprehensive, just and enduring solution to the Palestinian issue, he said.

Israel's unrelenting attacks in Gaza have forced the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, or UNRWA, to suspend food distribution in Rafah, as other agencies warned of a lack of urgent medical supplies.

Lack of supplies

In a post on X on Tuesday, the UNRWA blamed the ongoing military operation in eastern Rafah for the insecurity there, the lack of supplies, and making its distribution center and warehouse "inaccessible" amid the continued displacement of people from the city.

"The Israeli ground offensive continues to expand, particularly in the southern regions of Gaza City and eastern Rafah, notably around the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Rafah crossing," the UNRWA said in its latest situation report.

It noted that most UNRWA shelters in Rafah "have been vacated, with internally displaced people moving to Khan Younis and Deir Al Balah".

The report said overall displacement numbers correlate with UNRWA registration figures in the new locations. For example, nearly 150,000 people have registered for essential services with the UNRWA in Khan Younis alone in the last 10 days, according to the UNRWA.

Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories, or COGAT, which implements the government's civilian policy within the territories of Judea and Samaria and also regarding the Gaza Strip, contested the UNRWA's claims.

COGAT said on its X account that 14 trucks of aid were transferred into Gaza and more than 569 metric tons of humanitarian assistance has been delivered to Gaza for further distribution by humanitarian partners.

Food supply is not the only issue plaguing Gaza. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus appealed to Israel on Tuesday to lift the blockade on medical supplies into Gaza, saying approximately 700 seriously ill patients were stuck in a "war zone".

Zhou Jin in Beijing and agencies contributed to this story.