The Spanish defence minister stated on Saturday that the battle in Gaza is a “real genocide”, as relations between Israel and Spain worsen following Madrid’s choice to recognise a Palestinian state.
Reuters could not instantly attain Israeli officers for touch upon Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath.
Israel has strongly rejected accusations made in opposition to it by South Africa on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it’s committing a genocide in opposition to Palestinians, saying it’s waging conflict on the Hamas militant group which attacked on Oct. 7.
The comment by Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles in an interview with TVE state tv echoed a remark by Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz who earlier this week additionally described the Gaza battle as a genocide.
“We cannot ignore what is happening in Gaza, which is a real genocide,” Robles stated within the interview, throughout which she additionally mentioned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in Africa.
She additionally stated Madrid’s recognition of Palestine was not a transfer in opposition to Israel, including that it was designed to assist “end violence in Gaza”. “This is not against anyone, this is not against the Israeli state, this is not against the Israelis, who are people we respect,” she stated.
Israel’s marketing campaign in Gaza has killed almost 36,000 Palestinians, in keeping with Gaza well being officers, and destroyed a lot of the enclave. Israel launched the operation to attempt to get rid of Hamas after the Palestinian militant group’s assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7 wherein some 1,200 folks had been killed and greater than 250 had been taken hostage, in keeping with Israeli tallies.
Spain, together with Ireland and Norway, declared this week it might recognise a Palestinian state on May 28, prompting an indignant response from Israel, which stated it amounted to a “reward for terrorism” and recalled its ambassadors from the three capitals.
Judges on the ICJ, the highest U.N. courtroom, on Friday ordered Israel to right away halt its army assault on the southern Gaza metropolis of Rafah, in a landmark emergency ruling within the case introduced by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated on Saturday that Israel should obey the courtroom’s ruling.
“The International Court of Justice’s precautionary measures, including the cessation of Israel’s offensive in Rafah, are mandatory. We demand its application,” he stated in a put up on social media web site X.
South Africa has accused Israel of failing to uphold its obligations beneath the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Wednesday that if extra nations recognised the Palestinian state it might add to worldwide stress for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Source: www.anews.com.tr