Lorraine Williamson
BAGHDAD, 17 May — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called on Arab League leaders and the broader international community to increase pressure on Israel. His remarks came during a summit in Baghdad, where he stressed the urgent need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Sánchez urged a united response to end the violence, stating that international law should guide future action. He criticised the ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip and highlighted the deteriorating situation in the West Bank.
“Palestine is bleeding to death before our eyes,” Sánchez said. “Europe and the world cannot ignore what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank.”
Humanitarian catastrophe in focus
The Spanish prime minister said the priority must be to halt the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He announced that Spain and Palestine are jointly submitting a resolution to the UN General Assembly. The resolution will demand the lifting of the blockade to allow full and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid.
He stated, “We will ask the International Court of Justice to assess whether Israel is complying with international law regarding humanitarian access.”
Four-point plan proposed
Sánchez outlined four immediate priorities. These include:
-
An end to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
-
Increased pressure on Israel through diplomatic and legal channels.
-
A push for a political resolution, with support for the upcoming New York peace conference.
-
Renewed calls for countries to recognise the State of Palestine.
Legal action and political dialogue
Sánchez said international legal avenues should be used to hold Israel accountable. However, he did not specify the exact measures Spain or others might pursue. He reaffirmed Spain’s backing of a two-state solution and called for renewed diplomatic momentum.
“Spain has advocated from the beginning for an international peace conference to resolve this conflict,” he said.
Hostages not mentioned
Sánchez did not reference the Israeli hostages still held by Hamas. His focus remained squarely on humanitarian and legal efforts.
The Baghdad summit reflects growing international concern over the situation in Gaza, as diplomatic pressure mounts ahead of the planned peace talks in New York next month.
Spain and Palestine hold first intergovernmental meeting to strengthen ties