Spain Pushes for Harsher Global Sanctions Against Israel

1 month ago 21

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Spanish Foreign Minister urges the international community to consider imposing sanctions on Israel to stop the war in Gaza. This call was made at a high-level meeting of European and Arab countries in Madrid on Sunday, as reported by NDTV.

Twenty countries and international organizations attended the fifth official meeting of the so-called "Madrid Group" to stop the conflict, which is no longer considered to have a clear purpose. Jose Manuel Albares, the Spanish Foreign Minister, emphasized that the meeting aims to stop this war and break the blockade of humanitarian aid that must enter without hindrance.

International pressure on Israel has intensified after European Union countries, which have long been seen as close allies, began to criticize Israeli military operations in Gaza. The almost three-month blockade of aid has exacerbated the crisis of basic needs such as food, water, fuel, and medicine in the Palestinian territories, which have been devastated by the prolonged war since Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023.

Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would allow limited aid to alleviate the concerns of allies, the reality is that the aid entering is still minimal. The UN described the amount of aid that has been allowed to enter so far as "only a drop in the ocean," while some aid organizations described Netanyahu's announcement as a "mere facade."

Aid organizations stated that the flow of supplies allowed by Israel in the last few days is far below the needs, which reach 500-600 trucks per day. Israel has only allowed about 100 aid trucks to enter Gaza since Wednesday, according to officials.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa expressed hope that the Israeli government would stop the "starvation" and "genocide" in Gaza, noting that many countries in the world are "clearly opposed to it." Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Atty pointed to the "lack of political will on the part of Israel" as the main problem in ending the war.

"This is the main problem," Abdel Atty said. "But we will keep trying, we will apply maximum pressure, we will continue to exert our maximum efforts in order to push for a ceasefire."

The Madrid meeting is a preparation for the high-level UN conference on the two-state solution that France and Saudi Arabia are holding in New York on June 17. Albares desired to "create momentum" ahead of the UN conference so that 'everyone' can recognize Palestine as an independent state.

After the European Union decided this week to review its cooperation agreements with Israel, Albares emphasized, "We must consider sanctions, we must do everything, consider everything to stop this war."

German Deputy Foreign Minister Florian Hahn also warned of the worsening and "unbearable" humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while calling for an immediate ceasefire and a diplomatic solution. Hahn stressed that ending the war in Gaza and creating a path for diplomatic efforts towards a political solution is currently one of the top priorities of Germany's foreign policy.

The meeting also involved representatives from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to promote a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict. According to an Al Jazeera correspondent in Madrid, this Sunday's meeting will be "crucial" as the members will "seeking the potential of further political talks that could be conducive to the Israelis coming along with the Palestinians, discussing the need to end the war and achieve a Palestinian state."

Israel's deadly attacks have killed nearly 54,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, the majority of whom are women and children.

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