MADRID, Spain: Spain’s foreign minister has called for international sanctions against Israel to stop the war in Gaza, ahead of a Madrid meeting of European and Arab nations on Sunday to urge a halt to its offensive.
Countries Israel had long counted on as allies have been adding their voices to growing international pressure after it expanded military operations across Gaza.
A two-month aid blockade has worsened shortages of food, water, fuel and medicine in the Palestinian territory, sparking fears of famine.
Aid organisations say the trickle of supplies Israel allowed to enter in recent days falls far short of needs.
Madrid will host 20 countries as well as international organisations on Sunday with the aim of “stopping this war, which no longer has any goal”, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told France Info radio.
Humanitarian aid must enter Gaza “massively, unimpeded, neutrally, so that it is not Israel who decides who can eat and who cannot”, he said.
A previous such gathering in Madrid last year brought together countries including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye as well as European nations such as Ireland and Norway that have recognised a Palestinian state.
Sunday’s meeting, which also includes representatives from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), will promote a two-state solution to the Palestinian conflict.
After the European Union decided this week to review its cooperation deal with Israel, Albares said “we must consider sanctions, we must do everything, consider everything to stop this war”.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has launched a relentless bombardment campaign in Gaza killing almost 54,000 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Thousands protest Israel’s Gaza attacks
Thousands of people gathered in Stockholm and Paris to protest their governments’ silence on Israel’s deadly attacks and starvation campaign, calling for immediate international intervention and sanctions, Al Jazeera reported.
In Stockholm, hundreds of people gathered at Odenplan Square urging the Swedish government to take a stand against Israel’s ongoing war crimes in Gaza.
Protesters marched to Sweden’s Foreign Ministry chanting “Freedom for Palestine” and “No to Netanyahu’s Plan.”
Swedish activist Lars Ohly said it is unacceptable that Sweden remained silent when more than 50,000 people have been killed, including more than 15,000 children.
In Paris, Palestinian supporters gathered at Bourse Square to demand sanctions against Israel and unhindered passage of aid convoys into Gaza.
Demonstrators highlighted the dire food shortage by banging empty pots and pans and chanting slogans such as “Israel is a murderer, Macron is an accomplice”.
“There is genocide in Gaza, we will not remain silent,” said Myriem, a 44-year-old protester. She described the restrictions on humanitarian relief to Gaza as “inhumane”. – Agencies
