MADRID: The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday that, given the number of casualties among civilians in Gaza, he doubts Israel is respecting the international humanitarian law as he repeated that military action in Gaza strip is unacceptable.
Last week, similar remarks made by Sanchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo at the Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing provoked a strong reaction from Israel. Foreign Minister Eli Cohen dismissed the comments as “false claims” that “gave terrorism a boost” and subsequently summoned the ambassadors of both Spain and Belgium.
In an interview with Spanish state-owned broadcaster TVE, Sanchez voiced his concerns, stating, “The footage we are seeing and the growing numbers of children dying raise serious doubts about [Israel’s] compliance with international humanitarian law.” He emphasized that the situation in Gaza is unacceptable.
Despite the diplomatic tensions, Sanchez, who advocates for a peace conference, described the relationship between Israel and Spain as “correct,” highlighting that friendly countries must also address important issues with each other. He maintained his position that European countries should engage in discussions regarding the recognition of a Palestinian state.
