In Malta there has always been consensus on the recognition of the State of Palestine and the inalienable right of Israel to exist in peace.

Hence, the solution of two states, two peoples living in peace as neighbours.

In March 2023 Malta had, together with Ireland and Spain, worked to recognise jointly the state of Palestine.

In March 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Sanchez had confirmed that his country was working with Malta towards this recognition. But then, two months later, when Spain and Ireland, joined by Norway, officially announced their recognition, Malta was conspicuous by its absence.

Prime Minister Abela announced.... we have to wait for the right moment.

What right moment, may I ask?

October 7 of 2023 saw the brutal inhuman attack by Hamas on Israel and the taking of hundreds of hostages.

The months that followed have seen the brutal retaliation by Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been killing scores of thousands of people, including children and women, as if they were mosquitoes.

Hamas is a brutal terrorist group.

Netanyahu has now been indicted at the International Criminal Court.

Yet, Robert Abela says......we are waiting for the right time!

When is the right time? After Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland graveyard?

It seems so: in fact, it now seems that Robert Abela will be hiding after the UK and France who, on 20 June next, will be recognising the State of Palestine ...and Malta will follow suit.

We, at Momentum, do not play about either with words or with human lives.

Our position is clear, we strongly condemn:

• The murder of hundreds of Israeli and other civilians on October 7 2023.
• The taking of 251 hostages (including children), some of whom are still being kept in captivity after 19 months.
• The imprisonment of thousands of Palestinians without charge, and without sentence.
• The deliberate and systematic destruction of houses, hospitals, universities and other infrastructure in Gaza, over the past 19 months, and the blocking of water, food and medical supplies; this inevitably and predictably has led and continues to lead to the deaths of thousands of civilians, including children. That is over and above the thousands of civilians who were killed by bombs and bullets.
• Forcing those people in Gaza who are still alive to suffer greatly from malnutrition, and unsanitary living conditions.
• The forced deportation of people from Gaza, as planned by the Netanyahu administration.

As Momentum, we are therefore demanding:

• The immediate return of all hostages taken by Hamas on October 7.
• The unconditional condemnation of Hamas by the International Community.
• The unconditional condemnation of Benjamin Netanyahu's behaviour by the international community.
• The deployment of UN forces in the Gaza strip to protect the threatened civilian population.
• The immediate opening of safe sea and land corridors to provide essential food and medical supplies to the civilian population in Gaza.
• A serious diplomatic effort on the part of the International Community for the implementation of a two state solution.
• The immediate recognition of the State of Palestine by the State of Malta, without waiting for June 20.

Robert Abela, instead of playing about with empty words for a reason which nobody in the country knows about, just get on with your work as Prime Minister and do your duty towards the Maltese, the Palestinians, the Israelis and humanity; recognise immediately the Palestinian State.

Basic decency and natural justice demand that.

Arnold Cassola is Chairperson of Momentum