The Spanish defence minister Margarita Robles has called the conflict in Gaza a “real genocide”.
This comes as relations between Israel and Spain worsen following Madrid’s decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
Robles in an interview with TVE state television on Saturday, echoed a comment by Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz who earlier this week also described the Gaza conflict as a genocide.
“We cannot ignore what is happening in Gaza, which is a real genocide,” Robles said in the interview, during which she also discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in Africa.
Israel has denied allegations made by South Africa at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that it is committing genocide against Palestinians.
It has insisted that its war is against Hamas militant group which attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages.
Israel subsequently declared war on Hamas but more than 36,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed by Israel Defence Forces amid the operation to destroy the militants.
According to Reuters, Robles also said Madrid’s recognition of Palestine was not targeted at Israel but meant to help end violence in Gaza.
“This is not against anyone, this is not against the Israeli state, this is not against the Israelis, who are people we respect,” she said.
Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, declared last week it would recognise a Palestinian state on May 28.
The announcement prompted an angry response from Israel, which recalled its ambassadors from the countries.
On Friday, the ICJ ordered Israel to immediately halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in an emergency ruling in the case brought by South Africa.
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Saturday that Israel must obey the court’s ruling.
“The International Court of Justice’s precautionary measures, including the cessation of Israel’s offensive in Rafah, are mandatory. We demand its application,” he said in a post on X.
