Armenia Recognizes Palestine as a State, Says Armenian Foreign Ministry 

A Palestinian flag is placed on the ground during a protest from the Freedom for Palestine Platform in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Madrid, Spain, June 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A Palestinian flag is placed on the ground during a protest from the Freedom for Palestine Platform in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Madrid, Spain, June 15, 2024. (Reuters)
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Armenia Recognizes Palestine as a State, Says Armenian Foreign Ministry 

A Palestinian flag is placed on the ground during a protest from the Freedom for Palestine Platform in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Madrid, Spain, June 15, 2024. (Reuters)
A Palestinian flag is placed on the ground during a protest from the Freedom for Palestine Platform in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Madrid, Spain, June 15, 2024. (Reuters)

Armenia has officially recognized a Palestinian state, the Armenian foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday, the latest country to do so despite opposition from Israel. 

Armenia supports a United Nations resolution on an immediate ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza and is in favor of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the same statement said. 

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli military occupation, welcomed Armenia’s decision. 

"This recognition contributes positively to preserving the two-state solution, which faces systematic challenges, and promotes security, peace, and stability for all parties involved," the Authority's presidency said in a statement. 

Spain, Ireland and Norway are among Western countries to officially recognize a Palestinian state, prompting Israel to pull its ambassadors from Madrid, Dublin and Oslo last month. 



Hezbollah Hints It Won’t Disarm If Israel Still Occupies Southern Lebanon

A vehicle drives past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war, near the border wall in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia on March 5, 2025. (AFP)
A vehicle drives past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war, near the border wall in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia on March 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Hezbollah Hints It Won’t Disarm If Israel Still Occupies Southern Lebanon

A vehicle drives past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war, near the border wall in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia on March 5, 2025. (AFP)
A vehicle drives past buildings destroyed in Israeli strikes during the latest war, near the border wall in the southern Lebanese village of Ramia on March 5, 2025. (AFP)

A senior Hezbollah official has hinted that the Lebanese group will not lay down its weapons as long as Israel is occupying parts of the country.

Mohammed Daamoush made his comments in Beirut during a sermon for Friday prayers adding that Israel’s occupation of five strategic hilltops and what he said were daily violations of a ceasefire aim to pressure Lebanon to normalize relations with Israel.

Daamoush said the state now controls the border with Israel and Lebanon's new government is backed by the international community and has weapons, so “what have you done to face daily Israeli violations and aggression?”

He called on authorities to convince the public about why weapons should only be held by the state, adding: “When there is occupation and a continuing aggression weapons should be in the hands of men and everyone should repel this occupation.”