"Spain, Ireland, Norway Recognize Palestinian Statehood"
Ireland, Norway, and Spain have officially recognized an independent Palestinian state, joining 143 U.N. member states and others. This move, however, is seen as largely symbolic and unlikely to bring full Palestinian statehood closer or significantly improve the lives of Palestinians, given the ongoing conflict with Israel and lack of support from the U.S. and larger European nations. Critics argue that practical measures to stop the violence in Gaza would be more beneficial.