A consignment of flour donated by Malta has reached Gaza, the prime minister said on Sunday ‘on the eve of Malta’s recognition of a Palestinian state.’

Malta is due to declare its recognition at the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Britain, Canada and Australia declared their recognition on Sunday and Portugal is expected to follow within hours.

Abela said in a Facebook post that recognition of a Palestinian state was a historic day and Malta remained committed to the achievement of peace in the region.

He said that Malta had shipped 250 tons of flour, which, through the work of the World Central Kitchen, would provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians.

He said Malta was also continuing to assist injured Palestinian children. 

Earlier on Sunday, the Office of the Prime Minister said recognition of a Palestinian state was part of the prime minister’s consistent political commitment towards a two-state solution. 

Malta’s policy is also to promote peace in the Middle East, while Malta continues to condemn the October 7 attack by the Hamas terrorist group and calls for the unconditional release of hostages held by the group, the OPM said.

Several other countries are expected to recognise the state of Palestine in the coming days.  

Following the move by Britain, Canada and Australia on Sunday, far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir both called for the annexation of the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, in contravention of international law.

Prime Minister Netanyahu said recognition of Palestine was an ‘absurd’ reward to Hamas and he vowed there would never be a Palestinian state. 

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