Spain proposes international sanctions on Israel to stop war on Gaza
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares says the international community should impose sanctions and embargoes on Israel to stop the brutal military offensive in the besieged Gaza Strip.
The top Spanish diplomat made remarks ahead of a Madrid meeting of European and Arab nations on Sunday.
Albares said Madrid will host 20 countries as well as international organizations with the aim of “stopping this war, which no longer has any goal.”
“We must consider sanctions, we must do everything, consider everything to stop this war,” he said.
Humanitarian aid must enter Gaza “massively, unimpeded, neutrally, so that it is not Israel who decides who can eat and who cannot,” the top Spanish diplomat said.
A previous such gathering in Madrid last year brought together countries including Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, as well as European nations such as Ireland and Norway that have recognized a Palestinian state.
Sunday’s meeting, which also includes representatives from the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, will also promote the so-called two-state solution to the conflict.
Israel has faced mounting international pressure, including from its closest allies, to halt its expanded offensive and allow aid into Gaza.
European Union foreign ministers have already agreed to review the bloc’s cooperation accord with Israel.
Sweden recently said it would press the 27-nation bloc to impose sanctions on Israeli ministers, while Britain suspended free-trade negotiations with Israel and summoned the Israeli ambassador.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an internationally wanted war criminal, has reaffirmed that his military aimed to bring the entire besieged Gaza Strip under its control.
Despite Israeli assurances that humanitarian aid would reach Palestinians, Gaza’s Government Media Office earlier confirmed that the Israeli army has continued to block all aid from reaching the starving population in Gaza for 81 consecutive days.
A three-month aid blockade has worsened shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine in the Palestinian territory, sparking fears of famine.
A series of recent reports indicates that dozens of children have died due to starvation in Gaza.
UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher last week warned that as many as 14,000 babies could lose their lives in Gaza if the siege of the Palestinian territory continues.
With American support, the Israeli genocide has so far killed 54,000 Palestinians and injured almost 122,200 others. Most of the victims have been women and children.
