The Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares has described as “false and unacceptable” Israel’s accusations against the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, who stated in a statement that both political leaders support Hamas terrorism. He has also announced that he is already preparing “a timely diplomatic response” against the Jewish State.
According to the minister, the accusations of the Government of Israel “are especially serious” because Sánchez “represents the presidency of the European Union in office and the prime minister who represents the country that will occupy the presidency as of January 1.”
Furthermore, Albares recalled that the entire Spanish Executive, including Sánchez himself, “did not hesitate to condemn the terrorist attack” by Hamas which, as he explained, “does not represent the Palestinian people” and is “only a terrorist organization.” Furthermore, he recalled that the President expressed solidarity with all Israeli victims during his visit to Israel.
Albares has made this decision after learning that the Israeli Foreign Ministry has summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium this Friday in retaliation for the statements made in recent hours by the president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the prime minister. Belgian, Alexander De Croo, since they consider that it represents implicit support for the actions of Hamas. The response from Madrid has been to summon the Israeli minister to express her discomfort.
“Israel is acting in accordance with International Law and fighting against a terrorist organization worse than the Islamic State that commits war crimes and crimes against humanity,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported in a statement, without referring to any specific statement.
The Ministry, headed by Eli Cohen, has reiterated that Israel plans to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip once the current agreement to release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners has been completed.
«We condemn the false statements of the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium that they support terrorism. Israel is acting in accordance with international law and fighting a murderous terrorist organization worse than ISIS that commits war crimes and crimes against humanity. We will resume fighting after the ceasefire until the elimination of the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip and the release of all those kidnapped,” Cohen assured.
Unilateral recognition of the Palestinian State
This Friday, Pedro Sánchez concluded a tour of the area in which he met, among other leaders, with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, before whom he questioned the scope of a military offensive that has left more than 14,000 dead in the Strip. from Gaza.
Sánchez opened the door for the first time to unilateral recognition of the Palestinian State by Spain. He did so in an appearance at the Rafah crossing, on Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip, where he concluded the brief two-day tour that took him to Jerusalem, Ramallah and Cairo.
The President of the Government has not set a date for that decision, which his Sumar partners already demanded of him during the last electoral campaign. His promise in the investiture debate was that he would drive that movement in the EU. Today he has insisted that this is his plan, but he has made it clear that it is not the only one.
«The time has come for the international community and especially for the EU to make a decision on the recognition of the Palestinian State. “It would be worth it and it would be important for many members of the EU to do it together,” she stated, “but if that does not happen, of course Spain will make its own decisions.”
They accuse the Barcelona City Council
The Israeli Embassy in Spain has described as “unjustifiable” the proposal adopted this Friday by the Barcelona City Council and which calls for interrupting relations with the Government of Benjamin Netanyahu, since it considers that “it only benefits Hamas and whitewashes its barbarism.”
The Embassy has “strongly” condemned the text “in these very difficult times for Israel” after the attacks of October 7. “This decision is a new episode of the anti-Israeli attitude of Barcelona City Council,” the diplomatic legation lamented in a message published on social networks.
“We are very aware that Barcelona City Council has not condemned the brutal murders or kidnappings of children, mothers, the elderly and innocent civilians,” the Embassy stressed.
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