'Recognition of territories is a rejection of murder, genocide, and occupation,' asserts Palestinian Ambassador to Portugal.
In a recent interview with Salomé Fernandes, the Palestinian ambassador to Portugal, Rawan Sulaiman, expressed a strong desire for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Sulaiman's statements reflect a growing European diplomatic momentum in support of Palestinian state recognition and humanitarian concerns. This momentum is evident in the stances of various European countries, as outlined by the ambassador.
Portugal and Sweden, for instance, have officially announced their support for recognizing a Palestinian state and are calling for increased economic pressure on Israel, including the suspension of trade agreements, due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This stance aligns Portugal with the Netherlands and other EU members pushing for this diplomatic approach.
Many European nations, including Britain, France, Ireland, Spain, and others, have issued statements condemning the humanitarian impact of Israeli military actions in Gaza and have called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian aid to be delivered unhindered. There is also concern over the presence and role of Hamas in governance, with calls for its disarmament.
The European Union has not taken a unified or single voice approach. While countries like Germany remain supportive of Israel's security concerns but caution Israeli actions to abide by international law, others such as Ireland, Spain, and Belgium are more directly critical of Israel's conduct.
On July 21, 2025, a joint statement from 25 countries including Britain, France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, called for an end to the Gaza war, immediate ceasefire, release of hostages, and respect for international law, explicitly criticizing Israeli aid delivery methods and rejecting proposals for forced displacement of Palestinians.
For Sulaiman, Portugal’s recognition of a Palestinian state and its solidarity with the Palestinian cause is significant political support for the Palestinian position in resolving the conflict through political means, alongside humanitarian dimensions.
France has also committed to recognizing the State of Palestine, and several European countries are following France's example, including Portugal. Salomé Fernandes' interview with Rawan Sulaiman provides insight into the ambassador's views on the Middle East conflict, and was published in the international section of a newspaper.
In the interview, Sulaiman stated that her people will only live in peace with a "political solution," which begins with the end of occupation and includes an end to genocide and injustice. The interview was conducted by Expresso.
"The European Union, as demonstrated by various European countries such as Portugal and France, is increasingly vocal in its support for a political resolution to the Middle East conflict, with a focus on recognizing a Palestinian state and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This political stance aligns with a growing international concern over war-and-conflicts in the Middle East."
"Salomé Fernandes' interview with Rawan Sulaiman provides a general news account of the ambassador's views, highlighting her belief that a political solution, ending occupation and addressing genocide and injustice, is crucial for achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict."
