This Monday, Israel accused Spanish ministers of making “immoral statements” about the situation in the Middle East, and the Spanish government rejected the criticism, which it considered “falsehoods.”
“It is very worrying” that “certain elements within the Spanish government have chosen to join the terrorism” of the Islamist group Hamas, the Tel Aviv government defended in a statement in Spanish from the Israeli embassy in Spain.
For Israel, “Not only are these statements absolutely immoral, they also endanger the security of Jewish communities in Spain.”
Israel’s government has called on Spain’s current Prime Minister, Socialist Pedro Sánchez, to unequivocally condemn “these shameful statements” by the ministers, which the statement did not specify.
Spain also responded with a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in which it “categorically rejects the untruths expressed” in the Israeli embassy’s text about some ministers.
“Any political leader can freely express views as a representative of a political party in a full democracy like Spain,” the text said.
The statement reiterates the position of the Spanish government “As a whole” regarding the “Hamas terrorist attacks” that began on October 7: “strong condemnation, demand for immediate and unconditional release of hostages and recognition of Israel’s right to defend itself within the limits set by international law and humanitarian law”.
The same text also emphasizes that the Spanish government “as a whole has repeatedly expressed the need to distinguish the Palestinian population from the terrorist group Hamas, to protect the civilian population of Gaza and the imperative need to maintain the basic services essential for the well-being of that population “, in a reference to the Gaza Strip, territory controlled by Hamas and surrounded and blockaded by Israel after the October 7 attack.
“The government as a whole reiterates that the only viable solution to achieve a situation of peace and stability in the region is the two-state solution. [israelita e palestiniano] that coexist, in peace and security, as endorsed by the United Nations,” the Spanish executive also wrote.
Spain has a government formed by a coalition of the Socialist Party (PSOE) and the left-wing and far-left platform Unidas Podemos.
On Saturday, the minister and leader of Podemos (which is part of Unidas Podemos), Ione Belarra, argued that “in view of the attempted genocide by the State of Israel in Gaza” the Madrid government should request an investigation by the International Criminal Court . Court.
Today, in response to the Israeli embassy’s statement, Ione Belarra wrote on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that the Tel Aviv government “commits war crimes in the Gaza Strip, massive bombings, water and electricity cuts and does not allow humanitarian aid”, so “denouncing this genocide” is “a democratic obligation”.
Another Unidas Podemos minister, Alberto Garzón, described the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip as “pure barbarism” and Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz criticized the Israeli response to the Hamas attack.
Yolanda Díaz is also vice-president of the government and now heads Somar, the platform of left-wing and far-left parties that succeeded Unidas Podemos and is currently negotiating a new government coalition with the PSOE, after the July 23 Spanish elections.
Somar said on Monday it has included Spain’s urgent recognition of a Palestinian state in negotiations with the Socialists with a view to forming the new governing coalition.
“One of the first measures of the next coalition government” should be “the recognition of the Palestinian state by Spain,” Somar leader Ernest Urtasun said.
Urtasun reiterated this Monday on behalf of Somar the condemnation of the attack by the Islamic group Hamas on the Israeli civilian population from the Gaza Strip on October 7, which he considered “a war crime that must be condemned”.
“But this does not give Israel the right to impose collective punishment on the Gaza Strip by committing war crimes,” he added.
Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip (an area bordering Israel and Egypt) since 2007 and is classified as a terrorist group by the European Union (EU), the United States and Israel.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas has already caused thousands of deaths and injuries on both sides.
Source: DN
