Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday that Gaza was in a “catastrophic situation of genocide” before an EU summit in Brussels, urging for suspending deals with Israel, according to AFP.
Call for Suspending Deal with Israel
Sanchez called on the European Union to immediately suspend its cooperation deal with Israel.
These remarks represent Sanchez’s strongest condemnation to date after a lot of critical statements against Israel and its genocide in Gaza.
The Spanish PM shed light on a recent human rights report by the EU’s diplomatic service which tackled “the catastrophic situation of genocide unfolding in Gaza.”
Importantly, the report mentioned “indications” that Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the deal, which forms the basis for trade ties.
Sanchez said it was “more than obvious” that Israel was violating its obligations and that the bloc should suspend the cooperation deal “immediately.”
Furthermore, the report tackled Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid, the high number of civilian casualties, attacks on journalists and the massive displacement and destruction caused by the war.
Sanchez added that “it makes no sense” that the bloc has imposed 18 rounds of sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine but, “in a double standard, is not even capable of suspending an association deal.”
Call for Exclusion from Eurovision
In May, Sanchez said that the Eurovision song contest should exclude Israel over its war in Gaza.
He also expressed solidarity with “the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment.”
Russians have not been allowed to take part in the competition because of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine.
“Therefore, Israel shouldn’t either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture,” Sanchez said at an event in Madrid.
During his speech, the Spanish PM stressed Spain’s commitment to applying the international law and human rights nothing that “Europe’s should be too.”
Calling Israel a “Genocidal State”
Sanchez previously called Israel a “genocidal state” during his speech in the Spanish parliament on Wednesday, stating that Madrid “does not do business” with such a country.
The PM’s remarks came as a response to a provocative comment from an anti-Israel member of parliament who condemned Spain’s trade relations with what he called the “genocide state” of Israel.
Sanchez’s comments sparked anger in Israel, prompting Israel’s Foreign Ministry to summon the Spanish Ambassador, Ana Salomon, for a formal reprimand in Jerusalem.
“Following the severe remarks made by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish ambassador to Israel has been summoned for a reprimand meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem tomorrow,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
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