The leaders of Norway, Ireland, and Spain have announced that their countries will recognise Palestine as a state on 28 May to promote peace in the Middle East, Norway’s prime minister Jonas Gahr Store said that there can be no peace in the region without recognition. Ireland’s prime minister Simon Harris and Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez made similar announcements, with Sanchez condemning Israeli policies in Gaza. Harris expressed confidence that more countries would follow suit, and stressed Ireland's support for Israel's secure existence. Harris said that Ireland was unequivocal in recognising Israel’s right to exist securely and in peace with its neighbours, adding: ‘Let me also be clear, Hamas is not the Palestinian people. A two-state solution is the only way out of the generational cycles of violence, retaliation, and resentment.’ Israel’s immediate response was to recall its envoys from the three countries.