Malta is set to officially recognize the State of Palestine during an international conference in June, according to Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela.
The announcement was made on Sunday during a political event in the city of Mosta, and has been widely reported by local media, including the Times of Malta.
The upcoming recognition will take place during a French-Saudi-led summit focused on advancing the two-state solution, scheduled to be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
Abela stated that his government will be the one to take this significant step after 45 years of discussion on the matter, affirming Malta’s commitment to justice and human rights. He emphasized that Malta can no longer ignore the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Although Malta already hosts a Palestinian ambassador and previously voted in favor of granting Palestine full United Nations membership at the Security Council in April 2023, it has yet to officially recognize Palestinian statehood.