Israel recalled its ambassadors after a number of countries backed the recognition of Palestine as an independent state

Israel is recalling ambassadors from six countries today after each voted in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state at the United Nations earlier this week, reports Sky News.

Japan, France, South Korea, Malta, Slovenia and Ecuador backed the proposal at the UN Security Council on Thursday (18 April), but the US vetoed it.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said their ambassadors in the country would show “strong protest” today.

“The unequivocal message that will be conveyed to the ambassadors: A political gesture to the Palestinians and a call for the recognition of a Palestinian state – six months after the massacre of October 7 – is a reward for terrorism,” he said.

“Israel will not agree to the creation of a state of terror that will endanger its citizens.”

He added that those countries should instead focus on pressuring Hamas to release the remaining hostages taken during the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel.

An “identical protest” will be made to other countries that have supported this move, he added.

The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained from voting in the 15-member council, while Russia, China, Algeria, Sierra Leone, Mozambique and Guyana also supported the motion.