Eduardo González
The Governments of Spain and Egypt have agreed in their support for the proposal presented last Friday by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
“Spain supports President Biden’s proposal to end the war in Gaza,” the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, declared this past Saturday through his official account on the social network X. Last Friday, the American president presented a road map – the preparation of which he attributed to Israel – that includes a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the release of hostages, the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and a increase in humanitarian aid.
The proposal was addressed yesterday in Madrid during the official visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Sameh Shoukry, who was first received by Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Complex.
During the meeting, attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, the head of the Executive thanked Egypt for its efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and obtain the release of all the hostages. Likewise, both addressed Spain’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine, agreed that this step can encourage States to do the same and agreed that the only viable path to achieving peace is the materialization of the two States solution.
Subsequently, Shoukry was received by Albares, who, during the press conference after the meeting, praised Egypt’s constructive role in favor of peace and its “interlocution” with all actors in the region, and highlighted, in this sense, “the efforts” of this country to negotiate a ceasefire agreement that allows the immediate release of the hostages and the entry of humanitarian aid.
For this reason, he expressed his hope that the current peace initiative supported by Egypt results in lasting peace in the Middle East and reiterated the support of the Spanish Government for the proposal formulated by Biden, because “it is necessary to put an end to the hostilities, which are only leading day by day to unbearable suffering of the civilian population, and taking steps towards a new management of Gaza.” “As soon as the guns fall silent, Gaza and the West Bank must be under a single Palestinian authority,” Albares warned.
In this sense, the minister recalled that “Spain and Egypt have a common vision” in favor of “the application of the two-state solution and highlighted that Egypt “was the first Arab country to sign a peace agreement with Israel.” which represents “reliable proof that it is possible and necessary that, along with the establishment of a Palestinian State, Israel integrates into the region and can live in peace and security.”
Sameh Shoukry
For his part, Shoukry thanked Spain for its “relevant and courageous step towards the materialization of the two-state solution, recognizing the State of Palestine.” Likewise, he reiterated his support for the Spanish proposal to hold a Middle East Peace Conference and expressed his confidence that Israel will accept Biden’s ceasefire plan. “The current proposal deserves to be accepted because it could lead to a ceasefire that would stop the killing of Palestinians in Gaza and allow the return of the hostages,” he declared.
For this reason, the head of Egyptian diplomacy urged Israel and Hamas to “accept Biden’s road map.” “Hamas’ initial statements are positive and we look forward to Israel’s response,” he continued. Hamas has expressed its willingness to address “positively” any proposal for a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, while Israel has stated that the plan “would allow the war to continue until all its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of capabilities.” military and government of Hamas.”
According to Shoukry, there is currently “a lot of communication and coordination” between the United States, Egypt and Qatar, the three countries leading the negotiations for a ceasefire, and with the EU partners to achieve, “between all of us, that accept this roadmap.” In any case, he warned, any “agreement that is signed” must include the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Rafah crossing, “Gaza’s only connection point with the outside.” “It is difficult for the Rafah border crossing to continue functioning without a Palestinian administration,” he added.
