Malta will officially recognise the State of Palestine following a summit on June 20, Prime Minister Robert Abela has confirmed, describing the decision as a moral responsibility in light of Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which has killed nearly 54,000 Palestinians.
Speaking at a political event on Sunday, Abela said: “We cannot close our eyes to this human tragedy that is getting worse every day,” in reference to the destruction inflicted by Israeli forces, which has disproportionately claimed the lives of women and children.
The Maltese leader also expressed horror at the killing of nine children belonging to Palestinian paediatrician Dr. Alaa Al-Najjar, whose home in Khan Younis was targeted in an Israeli airstrike on Saturday.
Dr. Al-Najjar, who was on duty treating other injured children at the time, lost nearly all her children and saw her husband critically injured. Only one of her children survived.
In a show of solidarity, Abela stated that Malta would be ready to welcome Dr. Al-Najjar and her family into the country.
Although Malta and Palestine have not established full diplomatic relations, the country has maintained a Representative Office in the Palestinian territories since June 2009.
This office symbolises the “traditional ties of friendship” between the two peoples and has long worked to enhance bilateral cooperation in politics, economics and culture.
Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated on the latest news and updates from around the Muslim world!
The Representative Office also promotes Malta’s presence in development, education, culture and tourism within Palestine, while offering consular services to Maltese citizens.
Among its annual initiatives is a scholarship scheme, in partnership with the University of Malta and the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs, which offers Palestinian students the opportunity to pursue higher education in Malta.
Diplomatically, Malta remains committed to supporting the establishment of “an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable State of Palestine” through peaceful means and multilateral institutions such as the European Union and the United Nations.
The recognition of Palestine refers to the acknowledgment of the State of Palestine as a sovereign nation, often encompassing the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.
Some major Western countries, like the United States and the United Kingdom, have not yet recognised Palestine, which has been a point of contention in international discourse.
As of May 2025, 147 of the United Nations’ 193 member states have recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, along with one observer state.
Nine countries formally recognised Palestine in 2024, including Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Norway, Spain, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Barbados.
Among the G20, ten countries have recognised Palestine: Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.
