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Date Published: 23/10/2023

Spanish President among last in Europe to call Israeli PM

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Pedro Sánchez phoned Benjamin Netanyahu to call for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid and to urge a return to efforts to bring about a two-state solution

Spanish President among last in Europe to call Israeli PM

Acting President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, spoke this Sunday October 22 with the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, to reiterate his condemnation of “the terrorist attacks by Hamas” but also to urge him to “prevent the conflict from spreading to the rest of the region”.

Sánchez was one of the last European leaders to pick up the phone and talk with the Israeli Prime Minister in the wake of the attacks by Hamas on Israelis and the ensuing counterstrike.

The Spanish President, who is currently trying to form a coalition government following the general elections in Spain back in July, also expressed his “deep concern for the protection of all civilians and the need for humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza in a sufficient and sustained manner”.

The acting Spanish government’s minority coalition partner has been criticised by Israel for, in their eyes, supporting Hamas after ministers made calls for understanding of the Palestinian position.

Sánchez confirmed his belief in the right of Israel to defend itself against the Hamas attacks “within the limits of international and humanitarian law” and called for all hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip to be released “immediately and unconditionally”.

Just one day before, on Saturday October 21, he took part in the Cairo Peace Summit, organised by the President of Egypt, Abdel Fatah Al Sisi, to address the situation in the Middle East and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

He took part in the opening session, where he shared Spain’s position with the other leaders, while conveying the need for this summit to be a first step towards restoring peace in the region and putting an end to the violence.

Speaking of his conversation with Netanyahu, the Spanish President said, “I have also conveyed my deep concern for the protection of all civilians and the need for humanitarian aid to reach the people of Gaza in a sufficient and sustained manner. For this to happen, a humanitarian ceasefire is necessary.”

Finally, he reaffirmed his faith in a two-state solution for the good of peace in the Middle East.

“We must prevent the conflict from spreading to the rest of the region. We must tackle a definitive solution for peace, based on the solution of two states, Israel and Palestine, coexisting in peace and security.”

While the terror alert has not been raised in Spain following a wave of attacks in Europe, police presence and security has been beefed up in major Spanish cities.

Images: Moncloa

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