Spanish, Australian leaders push for ‘2-state solution’ amidst Mideast crisis

By Gizem Nisa Cebi

ISTANBUL (AA) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese Tuesday called for a decisive action to impose "the two-state solution" amid intensifying tensions in the Middle East.

"The two-state solution is the only possible one to achieve a just and lasting peace," Sanchez said on X after a phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Both leaders addressed and analyzed the urgency of the escalating conflicts in the region, highlighting the imperative for international "responsibility and restraint," according to the Spanish prime minister.

"It's time to move from words to action," Sanchez added.

As clashes persist in the Middle East, leaders from across the globe are stressing the critical need for tangible steps to de-escalate the situation and pave the way for lasting peace.

Despite a UN Security Council resolution urging an immediate cease-fire, Israel persists in its relentless military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which has endured for 193 days.

The ongoing offensive has led to a devastating toll, with approximately 33,800 fatalities and over 76,500 injuries since last October. The blockade imposed on the enclave has exacerbated the crisis, pushing much of the population to the brink of starvation.

Also, Iran on Saturday launched an airborne attack on Israel in retaliation for an April 1 airstrike on its diplomatic compound in the Syrian capital. It reportedly fired more than 300 drones and missiles, with almost all intercepted by the air defense systems of Israel and its allies – the US, France, and the UK.