Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez has renewed his outspoken criticism of Israel’s prosecution of its war in Gaza, calling on the EU to immediately suspend its association agreement with Israel over alleged violation of human rights.
He noted that it would be a double standard to pursue the 18th package of sanctions on Russia while not reacting to Israel’s actions.
Speaking to reporters before the EU summit in Brussels, Sanchez mentioned a recent human rights report by the bloc’s diplomatic service which, he said, addressed “the catastrophic situation of genocide unfolding in Gaza.”
The report published last week found “indications” that Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the deal, which forms the basis for trade ties.
The text cited Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory, the high number of civilian casualties, attacks on journalists and the massive displacement and destruction caused by the war.
The Spanish Prime Minister asserted that it was “more than obvious” that Israel was violating its obligations and that the bloc should suspend the cooperation deal “immediately.”
“It makes absolutely no sense that we’ve passed 18 sanctions packages on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine and Europe but, with double standards, haven’t even been able to suspend the Association Agreement with Israel when they are flagrantly violating Article 2 in terms of human rights.”
Pedro Sanchez
Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement establishes that respect for human rights and democratic principles constitutes an “essential element” of the deal.
Spain and Ireland first began pushing for the bloc to review the deal in February 2024.
However, the bloc only agreed to review the agreement after a Dutch initiative in May.
On Monday, Foreign Ministers gathered to respond to the review, which found “indications” that Israel breached its human rights obligations in Gaza.
After the meeting, the bloc’s Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas ruled out suspending the deal for now.
“Our first goal is to change the situation on the ground. If the situation does not improve, then we can discuss further measures and come back in July.”
Kaja Kallas
Tensions between Spain and Israel have escalated in recent months. Last month, Israel said that it had summoned the Spanish Ambassador for a formal reprimand after Sanchez described Israel as a “genocidal state.”
Sanchez made the remarks during an exchange in the Spanish parliament in which his government was accused of continuing to trade with Israel.
“I want to clarify one thing. We don’t trade with a genocidal state. We don’t.”
Pedro Sanchez
Sanchez has previously expressed “genuine doubts” about whether Israel was complying with international humanitarian law in its offensive in Gaza, while one of Spain’s Deputy Prime Ministers, Yolanda Díaz, has said that “the genocide of the Palestinian people cannot go unpunished.”
EU Urged To Improve Aid Flow Into Gaza
In his address to the reporters, the Spanish Prime Minister urged the EU to act to improve the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.
After more than 20 months of devastating conflict, rights groups say that Gaza’s population of more than two million face famine-like conditions.
Israel began allowing supplies to trickle in at the end of May following a blockade of more than two months, but distribution has been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on those waiting to collect rations.
Gaza’s health ministry disclosed that since late May, nearly 550 people have been killed near aid centres while seeking scarce supplies.
The United Nations has condemned the “weaponisation of food” in Gaza, and slammed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israeli-backed body that has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations there.
Israel meanwhile is pressing its bombardment of the territory, in a military offensive it says is aimed at defeating militant group Hamas, whose unprecedented October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war
According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 56,259 people, also mostly civilians.
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