06/26/2025June 26, 2025Spanish PM condemns ‘catastrophic situation of genocide’ in Gaza
Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it would be a double standard for the EU to pursue further sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine while not sanctioning Israel for the war in Gaza.
Sanchez urged the EU to suspend its cooperation deal with Israel, pointing to “the catastrophic situation of genocide unfolding in Gaza.”
He added that “it makes no sense” that the bloc has imposed 18 rounds of sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, but “in a double standard, is not even capable of suspending an association deal.”
Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez called for the EU to review its association agreement with IsraelImage: Yves Herman/REUTERS
In March this year, a United Nations-backed investigation said that Israel had committed “genocidal acts” during the conflict with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, said this had been done through the systematic destruction of sexual and reproductive healthcare facilities in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Irish leader Michael Martin echoed calls for Israel to adhere to the human rights clauses of the EU-Israel Association Agreement amid “the dire, catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza.”
“I will be saying to my European colleagues that the people of Europe find it incomprehensible that Europe does not seem to be in a position to put pressure on Israel, and leverage on Israel, to stop this war in Gaza, to stop the continuing slaughter of children and innocent civilians,” he said.
He said, “The tactic of undermining those who would even question what is happening in Gaza also needs to stop.”
Both Spain and Ireland are among countries formally recognizing Palestinian statehood.
Israel has repeatedly rejected claims that it is committing genocide in Gaza and maintains that it is fighting Hamas militants in the Palestinian enclave.