EU member state may recognize Palestine unilaterally
The mother of a liberated prisoner fainted as she hugged her daughter
Pedro Sanchez said that Spain will make its own decision if the bloc does not want to do so
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday that Spain is ready to move forward alone regarding the issue of recognizing a Palestinian state, although it prefers to work side by side with other members of the European Union.
Spain currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, which Belgium will take over next January. Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, spoke to reporters at the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, before the start of the negotiations mediated by Qatar. “Humanitarian pause” And 13 Israeli hostages released.
In response to a question about whether he would support unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, Sanchez said so “The moment has come” For the European Union and the rest of the world “The international community” Let’s do it.
“It will be important for many EU member states to do this together.” The Spanish Prime Minister said. If not, of course, Spain will make its own decisions.”
On Thursday, Sanchez and Decro met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, as part of their regional mission to stop the conflict in Gaza.
After the meeting with Netanyahu, Sanchez told reporters this “Peace today means the establishment of a viable Palestinian state that includes the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem, in accordance with United Nations resolutions.”
During the press conference in Rafah, Sanchez called for holding a peace conference “To implement the two-state solution” Where both Israel and the Palestinians will be represented.
“We need to replace violence with hope and peace.” Sanchez argued. “We must offer the Palestinian people a future full of hope.”
While Israel has the right to defend itself, it needs to remain within the bounds of international humanitarian law. “This is not the case” Sanchez noted, describing the IDF’s attack on Gaza as… “Random killing of innocent civilians” And “Totally unacceptable.”
Netanyahu declared war on Hamas after the attack launched by the Palestinian movement in Gaza on October 7, which resulted in the killing of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of more than 200 others. Since then, according to local officials, nearly 15,000 Palestinians – including 6,000 children – have been killed in the Strip.
