Bahamas formally recognized Palestine as a state
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Palestine praises The Bahamas' decision, urging all countries to follow in their steps.
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Anti-war activists hold a Palestinian flag during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking for a ceasefire in Gaza at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Saturday, November 4, 2023. (AP)
The Bahamas' Foreign Ministry declared on May 7 that the Cabinet of The Bahamas has decided to formally recognize Palestine as a state.
In a statement, the ministry said that the government of The Bahamas believes that "recognition of the State of Palestine strongly demonstrates The Bahamas’ commitment to the principles espoused in the Charter of the United Nations and to the right of self-determination of peoples as articulated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)."
It emphasized that The Bahamas stands behind the Palestinian people's legal right "to freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."
From its end, Palestine praised the decision today urging all countries to follow in the steps of The Bahamas.
The Palestinian Presidency issued a statement hailing this "contribution to the enshrinement of the right of the Palestinian people in self-determination on their land and in taking practical steps to support the implementation of the two-state solution."
The presidency also urged all countries that have not recognized the state of Palestine to do so and to carry out their obligations in recognizing the right of Palestinians to self-determination.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the Recognition of the State of Palestine by the Commonwealth of The Bahamas
— State of Palestine - MFA 🇵🇸🇵🇸 (@pmofa) May 8, 2024
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates welcomes the decision taken by the Commonwealth of The Bahamas to recognize the State of Palestine…
Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago recognize Palestinian statehood
Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago have recently made historic declarations by officially recognizing Palestinian statehood.
The announcement from Barbados came on April 21, with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kerrie Symmonds declaring the decision to formally recognize Palestine as a state.
Symmonds said that the timing was appropriate for Barbados to extend diplomatic recognition to Palestine.
Likewise, on April 23, Jamaica's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith, issued a statement affirming Jamaica's intention to recognize the State of Palestine.
The decision "is in line with Jamaica’s strong commitment to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, which aim to establish mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among States, as well as the recognition of the right of peoples to self-determination," a statement read.
Trinidad and Tobago joined the ranks shortly thereafter, becoming the latest Caribbean nation to formally acknowledge Palestinian statehood.
"Recognition of Palestine is moral and just and demonstrates Trinidad and Tobago’s acknowledgment of and support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian People," the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago said in a statement.
This shift in policy represents a departure from the longstanding diplomatic relations that Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago have maintained with "Israel" since the 1960s.
