File Photo: Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro. AFP
A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry affirmed that the Portuguese decision is "a historic step which reflects the growing international support for Palestinian rights to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, contiguous state along the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital."
Portugal, among several Western nations, has repeatedly called for a ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Hamas to end the Israeli genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.
"Egypt affirms that this accelerated international support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state demonstrates the justice of the Palestinian cause and the growing international commitment to eradicating the historical injustice suffered by the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination and the enjoyment of their most basic rights."
The foreign ministry statement urged all states that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take this step "to uphold humanity and justice."
“Egypt reiterates that there is no alternative to resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict except through a settlement based on the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, to achieve peace, security, and stability for all peoples of the region, in accordance with international resolutions."
Since July, several Western powers have announced their intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UNGA, including France, Australia, Canada, Luxembourg, and Malta. The UK and Belgium said they would also recognize Palestinian statehood but with conditions. This brought up the number of UN member-states that recognize the State of Palestine to 148 nations.
Moreover, the statement stressed that "continued Israeli arrogance, excessive use of force, and continued efforts to impose a fait accompli and undermine the two-state solution through policies of settlement expansion, land confiscation, and displacement will only serve to fuel hatred and hostility and spread extremism and violence in the region."
The foreign ministry reiterated Cairo's "complete rejection of displacement under any name or pretext, and emphasizes that the only way to achieve sustainable peace and security in the region is to restore the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people."
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