Arab states have hailed the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognise a Palestinian state and urged other countries to follow suit, AFP reports.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia and Egypt were among the Middle East countries that praised the move, having called for a two-state solution for decades.

Saudi Arabia called it a “positive decision” that “affirms the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”.

The Gulf kingdom, which has long positioned itself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, said it “calls on the rest of the countries to quickly make the same decision”.

Egypt, which has engaged in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, alongside Qatar and the United States, also hailed the move as a “welcome step”.

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