Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on Ursula von der Leyen to do more to stop Israel's “illegal invasion” of Gaza, a day after the European Commission president called Israel's wider war “abhorrent”.
“One year after recognizing Palestine as a state, the pain in Gaza is unbearable,” Sanchez wrote on X shortly before his meeting Wednesday in Brussels with von der Leyen. “Spain will continue to raise its voice, stronger than ever, to put an end to the carnage the world is witnessing today,” he added.
During the meeting, Sanchez shared with von der Leyen his “extreme concern” about the “humanitarian catastrophe” currently affecting civilians in Gaza, the Spanish government said in a press release.
The Spanish leader reiterated the importance of increasing international pressure – through sanctions and an arms embargo – to force Israel to end its “illegal invasion,” the press release said.
The meeting comes amid a growing change of tone among Israel's traditionally most ardent supporters in Europe. On Tuesday, von der Leyen accused Israel of using “disproportionate” force against Palestinian civilians and called its expanded war against Hamas in Gaza “abhorrent.” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Monday that Israel's actions in Gaza “can no longer be justified.”
Meanwhile, Spain has called on the EU to completely suspend its association agreement with Israel. Most EU foreign ministers last week backed a review of the agreement that governs trade relations between the bloc and its 31st-largest trading partner.
Following Spain's recognition of Palestinian statehood in 2024, Sanchez has stepped up diplomatic pressure to force Israel to “abide by international law.” Spain's diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv are virtually nonexistent, and Sanchez has sought Arab League support for two planned war proposals to the UN in September.
Earlier this month, in the Spanish parliament, Sanchez called Israel a “genocidal state.”
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Source: Source
