SAFA — The Pacific Island nation of Nauru has opened an embassy in occupied Jerusalem, becoming the ninth country or entity to establish a diplomatic mission in the city despite longstanding international opposition to recognizing Israeli sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Nauru’s Vice President and Foreign Minister Lionel Aingimea attended Monday’s inauguration ceremony, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.

Nauru, with a population of around 12,000 and a land area of just 21 square kilometers (8.1 square miles), is one of the world’s smallest countries.

“We see opening an embassy here in Jerusalem not only as strengthening our ties with Israel, but also as a message to the world of where we stand,” Aingimea said.

The vast majority of the international community does not recognize Israel’s annexation of occupied Jerusalem, which Israeli forces captured in 1967. Palestinians regard East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.

Nauru joins the United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Kosovo, Paraguay, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Somaliland in maintaining embassies in Jerusalem.

The move comes as Israel seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties with smaller states amid mounting international criticism over its war on Gaza and continued occupation and settlement expansion in Palestinian territory.

Nauru’s decision is likely to draw criticism from Palestinians and supporters of Palestinian rights, who argue that establishing embassies in Jerusalem prejudges the city’s final status and lends legitimacy to Israel’s claims over the city.

In 2017, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and ordered the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to the city, breaking with decades of US policy. His administration, however, said the decision did not determine the specific boundaries of Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem, which it said remained subject to negotiations.

Israel occupied East Jerusalem in 1967 and later formally annexed it in 1980, a move that has not been recognized by most of the international community.

Palestinians maintain that occupied East Jerusalem must serve as the capital of an independent Palestinian state and reject attempts to consolidate Israeli sovereignty over the city through settlements, annexation and diplomatic recognition.

Nauru’s embassy opening marks the latest challenge to that international consensus as Israel seeks broader recognition of Jerusalem as its capital.