The Republic of Ireland has officially recognised the state of Palestine, Taoiseach Simon Harris has announced.

Harris described the move as motivated by his country's belief in "freedom and justice as fundamental principles of international law".

At an address at Government Buildings in Dublin, he said: "We said the point of recognising the state of Palestine was coming closer, that point has now arrived.

"Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognise the state of Palestine... Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision."

Ireland’s deputy premier and foreign affairs minister, Micheal Martin, said recognising the state of Palestine was about "the empowering of moderation".

Martin said: "Today's decision is about the empowering of moderation within Palestine... It can be argued that the Israeli strategy, war and suppression of the Palestinian people, has empowered extremism, and we're moving in a different direction... This is very much about peace."

But Israel's Foreign Affairs Minister, Israel Katz, called the decision by Ireland and other nations to recognise Palestine a "distorted step".

Katz added: "I have instructed the immediate recall of Israel's ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of these countries' decisions to recognise a Palestinian state.

"I'm sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security."

More to follow...