Slovenia recognised a Palestinian state on Tuesday after its parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move, media outlets reported. The decision came days after Spain, Norway and Ireland recognised a state of Palestinian.
The Slovenian government endorsed a motion last week to recognise a Palestinian state, and had sent the proposal to parliament for final approval, which was needed for the decision to take effect.
The parliament voted 52 in favour of recognition, with no opposing votes out of the 90-seat assembly. The remaining lawmakers abstained from the vote.
Previously only seven members of the 27-nation EU officially recognised a Palestinian state. Five of them are former East bloc countries that announced recognition in 1988, as did Cyprus, before joining the EU. Sweden’s recognition came in 2014.
Israel’s air and land attacks have since killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the majority of whom are children and women.