The Diplomat
The Spanish Government yesterday condemned the attack carried out by Israel against a Palestinian school in Gaza City that resulted in at least 100 dead and more than 150 wounded.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Executive says: “We demand once again full compliance with the provisional measures imposed by the International Court of Justice and the protection of the civilian population.”
In addition, Spain reiterates to both Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militias “that an immediate ceasefire agreement is essential to end this humanitarian catastrophe and obtain the release of the hostages.”
Israel confirmed the attack but questioned the casualty figures presented by the authorities of the enclave, under Hamas control, and assured that the school had become a “command center” for the Hamas militias.
Several European countries condemned the attack and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, declared himself “horrified” and denounced, on his account on the social network X, that at least a dozen schools have been attacked in recent weeks by Israel. In response to the arguments put forward by the Israeli Army, Borrell said that “there is no justification for these massacres.”
“We are shocked by the terrible total number of deaths,” said the High Representative, who took the opportunity to condemn, as the United States did last Friday, the position displayed by one of the most extremist elements of the Israeli government, the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, who has threatened to break the Israeli government if his country suspends the bombings in Gaza in exchange for a ceasefire.
Borrell described Smotrich’s opposition as “counterproductive to the wishes of the Israeli people” and reiterated that a ceasefire “is the only way to stop the death of civilians and guarantee the release of hostages” held by Palestinian militias.
For his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, reported on his X account that he had a conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, to discuss the “risk of regional escalation” that the Gaza war could entail.
“Spain is working to achieve a ceasefire and the entry of humanitarian aid, protect civilians, prevent violence from spreading and create a framework for peace,” Albares said in the message in which he reported on the conversation, which is added to those he has been holding in recent days with foreign ministers of the region.
