Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called on the European Union to immediately suspend its cooperation agreement with Israel. He made this demand in response to the brutal Israeli actions in Gaza, which he described as a “devastating genocide” causing immense suffering to civilians.
Sánchez highlighted that since October 2023, Gaza has faced relentless Israeli airstrikes and military operations that have resulted in thousands of casualties. Speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, he cited a recent human rights report by the EU’s diplomatic service, which confirms widespread violations of international law and civilian harm in Gaza.
The Spanish leader strongly criticized Israel for violating its obligations under international humanitarian law. He urged the EU to take concrete action by suspending all cooperation agreements, including trade and security ties, to pressure Israel into stopping the violence and protecting civilians.
Furthermore, Sánchez condemned the EU’s double standards in foreign policy. He pointed out that while the EU has imposed sanctions on Russia 18 times after its attack on Ukraine, it has failed to take similar punitive steps against Israel despite the ongoing crisis. He described this inconsistency as “beyond understanding” and damaging to the EU’s credibility.
This bold stance from Spain represents one of the strongest reactions from an EU member state so far regarding the conflict in Gaza and Israel’s military actions. The demand increases pressure on the EU to reconsider its diplomatic and economic relationship with Israel amid growing global condemnation and calls for justice.