Slovenia's government endorses motion to recognize Palestinian statehood

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Slovenia’s government on Thursday endorsed a motion to recognize Palestine as a state, local media reported.

The government referred the motion to the National Assembly for final approval, Prime Minister Robert Golob said after the government session, according to the Slovenian Press Agency.

The National Assembly is expected to vote on the motion next week, the agency reported.

The move came just two days after Ireland, Norway and Spain formally recognized Palestinian statehood.

On May 9, the Slovenian government launched procedures to recognize the state of Palestine, according to the agency.

Israel has killed more than 36,200 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year, which killed around 1,200 people.

The military campaign has turned much of the enclave of 2.3 million people into ruins, leaving most civilians homeless and at risk of famine.

Israel is accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.