Pedro Sanchez defended this Tuesday, after the extraordinary European Council to analyze the war in the Middle East, the need to maintain and increase the humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. “We have to offer a horizon of hope to the Palestinian people,” said the acting President of the Government, who has also insisted that the “solution” is can only come from recognition of two states, Israel and Palestine, while stressing that the EU must remain “well coordinated and united.” The PSOE leader has also demanded the release of all hostages held by Hamas, citing and confirming the case of Iván Illarramendi, the Spaniard who remains kidnapped after the terrorist attack on a kibbutz next to the Gaza border on October 7.
Attacked by the PP for his alleged lack of weight internationally, despite the fact that Spain holds the rotating presidency of the EU, in the midst of a climate of tension with the Israeli Embassy due to the statements of the Minister of Social Affairs, Ione Belarra, whom the Middle Eastern country accuses of “align with terrorism” of Hamas, Sánchez wanted to establish his position through a brief appearance in which he did not admit questions.
“It is essential that the EU remains well coordinated and united in the face of a crisis of this significance. “Our strength comes from there, from the union,” said the president after the friction in recent days over the position of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, considered clearly pro-Israel. The Twenty-Seven agree that “Israel must guarantee at all times the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the protection of the population civil,” continued Sánchez, whose statements took place shortly after the bombing by the Jewish State of a hospital in the strip, which caused hundreds of deaths.
On the Spanish side, others will be added to the first humanitarian aid package announced a few days ago. four million additional between now and the end of the year. In 2023, the acting president has said, aid for cooperation and humanitarian aid to Palestine will rise to 21.5 million, close to 30% more that in 2022.
The two states
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According to Sánchez, the “efforts” Europeans must “concentrate” in two aspects. On the one hand, “addressing the humanitarian crisis and avoid escalation in the region”, which includes guaranteeing water and electricity supplies in the strip. On the other hand, explore the “two-state solution”, because only through this “way”, he said, “will it be possible to stop a conflict “that causes so much suffering.”
“In recent years the international community has looked away in this conflict – concluded Sánchez, who has made it clear that Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas terrorist attacks -. The events of recent days show us that this idea was a deep mistake. The conflict is not going to resolve itself. We must offer a horizon of hope to the Palestinian people. The EU must act strategically on both the consequences of the conflict and the causes. The absolute priority is to protect civilians. We must ensure that we increase humanitarian aid. In the meantime, we must get involved with all our political capital for a just and lasting peace. And that goes through two states.”