Armenia’s foreign ministry announced on Friday that the country has recognized the State of Palestine.

In their statement, the Armenian Foreign Ministry expressed its concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, disapproving of the targeting and violence towards civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as hostage-taking, calling for the unconditional release of the hostages taken from Israel and held in Gaza. In line with this position, the foreign ministry took into account “the principles of equality, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence of peoples.” 

The Armenian Foreign Ministry further stated its support for the “two-state” solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which it believes to be “the only way to ensure that both Palestinians and Israelis can fulfill their legitimate aspirations.”

Following Armenia’s recognition of Palestine, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Armenian ambassador to Israel “for a harsh reprimand conversation.”

The State of Palestine, on the other hand, welcomed Armenia’s decision to recognize its sovereignty. In a statement issued on Friday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry underscored that this recognition not only honored the historical ties between the two countries but also demonstrated Armenia’s adherence to international law. “This recognition is crucial for efforts aimed at establishing stability and peace in the Middle East by ending the illegal Israeli occupation and ensuring the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination,” the statement said. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry went on and called for states to “take definitive irreversible steps” to recognize Palestine and grant it full membership to the UN.

Armenia previously voted for UN Resolution A/RES/ES-10/22, which called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza and was passed by a large majority of the UN General Assembly in December 2023. 

The State of Palestine has been recognized by the vast majority of UN Member States. On June 6, a group of UN experts urged all countries to recognize the State of Palestine in order to promote peace in the Middle East and to ensure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Previously, the governments of Ireland, Spain and Norway announced their recognition of the State of Palestine in May. The Slovenian government also endorsed a motion to recognize Palestine, which is pending parliamentary approval.