The decision was made by Foreign Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, after a debate in the Jamaican government cabinet on Monday.

Jamaica now joins 11 other CARICOM states who recognise the State of Palestine:

Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, St Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname

In the wider Caribbean, Cuba & Dominican Republic also recognise Palestine - with Cuba being the first one to do so in 1988