Malta's Deputy Prime Minister Reaffirms Support for Palestinian Rights During Embassy Visit

Deputy Prime Minister Borg Visits Palestinian Embassy

Valletta, Malta – On October 17, 2025, Malta's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, Ian Borg, visited the Palestinian embassy in Valletta. The visit served to reaffirm Malta's steadfast support for Palestinian rights, coming shortly after the nation's official recognition of the State of Palestine. Ambassador Fadi Hanania hosted the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister, with several Arab ambassadors and the representative of the League of Arab States also in attendance.

Malta's Official Recognition of Palestine

The visit underscores Malta's recent formal recognition of the State of Palestine, which occurred on September 22, 2025. Prime Minister Robert Abela announced this decision at the United Nations General Assembly, aligning Malta with a growing number of nations advocating for Palestinian statehood. This move was described by Prime Minister Abela as historic, emphasizing Malta's belief that Palestinian statehood must coexist with Israel's right to exist.

Discussions on Bilateral Relations and Regional Developments

During the meeting, Ambassador Hanania highlighted that the visit reflected the strength of Palestinian-Maltese relations and Malta's continued support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions. He briefed Deputy Prime Minister Borg on recent political developments, stressing the urgent need for intensified international efforts to ensure Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid, and commence reconstruction efforts.

Ambassador Hanania also drew attention to ongoing Israeli violations across the occupied West Bank, including Jerusalem, and urged action to end the de facto annexation of Palestinian land, halt settlement expansion, remove movement restrictions, release Palestinian detainees, and transfer withheld clearance funds. He further called upon Malta to leverage its influence within the European Union and international institutions to protect religious sites in Jerusalem and to take practical steps toward realizing a sovereign Palestinian state across all occupied Palestinian territories.

Reaffirmation of Two-State Solution and Humanitarian Aid

Deputy Prime Minister Borg reaffirmed Malta's position that the two-state solution, with borders based on pre-1967 lines and Jerusalem as the capital of both states, remains the only viable path to justice and lasting peace. He reiterated Malta's call to end the bloodshed, condemned the killing of civilians, and highlighted Malta's significant contributions of humanitarian aid to Gaza, including sending hundreds of tons of assistance and receiving wounded Palestinians for medical treatment.

Borg also stressed the importance of safeguarding the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and urged Hamas to honor its commitments regarding the release of hostages. Malta has a long-standing history of close and friendly relations with the Palestinian people, dating back to its independence in 1964, and has consistently supported international efforts for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Future Diplomatic Implications

With Malta's formal recognition of the State of Palestine, the Palestinian representative office in Valletta is expected to be upgraded to a full embassy, with its head officially recognized as the Ambassador of Palestine. This diplomatic upgrade signifies a deepening of bilateral ties and Malta's commitment to supporting Palestinian aspirations on the international stage.