Israel in diplomatic row with Spain and Belgium over Gaza bombardment
Israel has accused Spain and Belgium of supporting terrorism, sparking a diplomatic row between the countries. The dispute arose after the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium criticized Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. The exchange of harsh words and summoning of ambassadors escalated the tension, even as the Spanish premier and his Belgian counterpart were visiting the Middle East.
Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, referred to the Israeli attacks on Gaza as unbearable during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He further stated that Israel was not abiding by humanitarian law and condemned the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including children.
Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, responded strongly to the comments, accusing Spain and Belgium of supporting terrorism through their false claims. Cohen argued that Israel was acting in accordance with international law and battling a terrorist organization worse than Isis, which he claimed was committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Spain expressed its surprise at Israel’s response and condemned their false, misplaced and unacceptable accusations. The Spanish foreign minister emphasized the severity of the accusations, as they were directed towards the Spanish prime minister, whose country currently holds the six-month presidency of the Council of the EU, and the leader of Belgium, who will assume the same role in January 2024.
Belgium’s prime minister, Alexander De Croo, also criticized Israel’s military operations, stating that they must respect international humanitarian law. De Croo called for an end to the killing of civilians, stating that too many lives had already been lost. He expressed his disapproval of the destruction occurring in Gaza and emphasized that such destruction was unacceptable.
The diplomatic dispute coincided with the release of 24 hostages by Hamas from the Gaza Strip and Israel’s release of 39 Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement lasting four days.
Despite condemning Hamas and expressing solidarity with Israeli victims, Spain has consistently advocated for the Palestinian cause. The Spanish prime minister called for the formal recognition of Palestine by the EU, arguing that the protection of Palestinian civilians should not be seen as incompatible with condemning Hamas and calling for the release of hostages.
The European Union countries and G7 members were in agreement in condemning Hamas and an October 7 attack that claimed the lives of 1,400 Israelis. However, there has been division among them regarding the appropriate level of pressure to exert on Israel to halt its bombardment and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
This diplomatic row highlights the ongoing tensions in the region and the differing perspectives among European nations. It also underscores the challenges faced in finding a consensus on how to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while protecting civilian lives.
