YEREVAN, MARCH 25, ARMENPRESS. Israel told four European countries on Monday that their plan to work toward the recognition of a Palestinian state constituted a "prize for terrorism" that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict between the neighbours, Reuters reports.

Spain said on March 22 that, in the name of Middle East peace, it had agreed with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take first steps toward recognizing statehood declared by the Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, according to Reuters.

"Recognition of a Palestinian state following the October 7 massacre sends a message to Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist organizations that murderous terror attacks on Israelis will be reciprocated with political gestures to the Palestinians," Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on X. "A resolution of the conflict will only be possible through direct negotiations between the parties. Any engagement in the recognition of a Palestinian state only distances reaching a resolution and increases regional instability."

Gaza has long been under the rule of the Islamist group Hamas, which rejects peace with Israel and attacked it on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 253 others hostage. This attack triggered a devastating war that has stoked violence in the West Bank, where Israel has extensive Jewish settlements. Hamas says more than 32,200 people have been killed in Gaza since October 7.