The Diplomat
The Spanish government yesterday condemned the new escalation of violence in Gaza and reiterated its rejection of terrorism, while urging Israel to respect international humanitarian law.
In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, the government expressed its “dismay” at the escalation of violence and “reiterates its condemnation of terrorism, as well as of the reprisals that have caused civilian casualties”. It then recalls “Israel’s obligation to respect international humanitarian law”.
The text of the Ministry, which is headed by José Manuel Albares, insists on its call for restraint and urges the parties to reopen the negotiating framework initiated in the Aqaba/Charm el-Chech process to prevent a new escalation of violence, as well as “to give a political perspective to the two-state solution, the only possible response to the legitimate national aspirations of Palestinians and Israelis”.
The European Union yesterday also expressed its “grave concern” about the situation, following IDF air strikes in the Strip, and called on the parties to “exercise maximum restraint” to avoid an exacerbation of tensions.
On Monday, the Israeli army killed 13 Palestinians in the Strip, including three senior members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militia, whom it holds “responsible for firing rockets into Israel over the past month”.
