Sanchez told Israel: Spain does not trade with a genocidal state

(Patria) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez reiterated his open criticism of the Israeli war in Gaza, saying Gaza is facing genocide, and called on EU leaders to immediately suspend the agreement with Israel.

Addressing reporters before the EU summit in Brussels, Sanchez mentioned a recent report by the bloc's diplomatic service on human rights, which, he said, dealt with the "catastrophic situation of genocide unfolding in Gaza," The Guardian reports.

The report, published last week, found indications that Israel is violating its human rights obligations under the agreement, which forms the basis for trade relations.

The text states Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, the high number of civilian casualties, attacks on journalists, and the mass displacement and destruction caused by the war.

Sanchez said it is more than obvious that Israel is violating its obligations and that the bloc should immediately suspend the cooperation agreement.

"It makes no sense that the bloc has imposed 18 rounds of sanctions on Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, but is not even capable of suspending the association agreement," Sanchez stated.

Last month, Israel announced it had summoned the Spanish ambassador for a formal reprimand after Sanchez described Israel as a genocidal state.

Sanchez made these comments during an exchange of views in the Spanish parliament in which his government was accused of continuing to trade with Israel.

"I want to make one thing clear! We do not trade with a genocidal state. We do not trade," Sanchez said.

The prime minister had previously expressed sincere doubts as to whether Israel is adhering to international humanitarian law in its offensive in Gaza, while one of the deputy prime ministers of Spain, Yolanda Díaz, said that genocide against the Palestinian people cannot go unpunished.