After meeting with pope, Spanish premier urges int’l community to halt arms sales to Israel

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday urged the international community to urgently halt arms sales to Israel.

In a news conference, following his meeting with Pope Francis in Rome, Sanchez condemned Israel’s recent attack on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Sanchez described the incident as a “clear violation of international law” and emphasized the need to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East.

“This attack on UNIFIL is something that must be unequivocally condemned and rejected,” Sanchez said.

The Spanish leader highlighted his country’s commitment to peaceful diplomatic solutions in the region, in alignment with international law.

He further noted that, despite accusations from some opposition parties, his government had not approved any arms or military equipment sales to Israel since Oct. 8, 2023.

Sanchez reiterated that he would bring the issue of halting arms sales to Israel to the forefront of the international agenda.

"Israel's violation of international humanitarian law, due to its occupation of Lebanon, must be addressed by the global community," Sanchez stated, adding that an immediate cease-fire was necessary to prevent further escalation of violence.

In his meeting with Pope Francis, the Spanish prime minister also discussed broader issues related to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and irregular migration.

Sanchez acknowledged the humanitarian importance of migration but pointed out its economic implications as well. "Migrants are essential for Europe's future prosperity. If Spain does nothing about migration in the next 10 years, we will lose 4 million workers, resulting in a decrease in economic growth," he said.

The two leaders also touched on other global conflicts, including the war in Ukraine, with Sanchez reaffirming Spain’s firm stance on international humanitarian law.

"Respect for international humanitarian law is Spain's fundamental position. We condemn any attack that violates it, whether it be in Gaza, the West Bank, Ukraine, or, as we’ve seen recently, against Lebanon," Sanchez said.