Spanish parliament's member calls Israeli actions in Gaza ‘crime of genocide’

By Esra Tekin

ISTANBUL (AA) – Gerardo Pisarello, a member of the Spanish parliament, said on Thursday that systematically bombing hospitals, and killing children is not just a war crime but a “crime of genocide.”

“We have to insist that bombing babies and children has nothing to do with self-defense. Systematically bombing hospitals and killing health workers has nothing to do with self-defense. This is not just war crimes, this is a crime of genocide,” Pisarello said during an event in The Hague organized by Progressive International, a global entity that brings together activists and organizations aligned with progressive left-wing ideologies.

Pisarello called on the Spanish government to demand “an immediate and permanent cease-fire” in Gaza and to stop arms trade with Israel.

He also urged the Spanish government to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.

Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau also urged the world to end Israeli “genocide” in Gaza.

Member of the British parliament, Jeremy Corbyn, said the US and European countries are the ones supplying weapons to Israel.

He said the “powerful governments” supplying arms to Israel can also urge Tel Aviv for a cease-fire.

They were in The Hague for supporting South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The 84-page filing by South Africa accuses Israel of acts and omissions that are "genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent ... to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

It said Israel's genocidal acts include the killing of Palestinians, causing serious bodily and mental harm, mass expulsion from homes and displacement, imposing measures intended to prevent Palestinian births and deprivation of access to adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation and medical assistance.

The hearing on Thursday will be followed by Israel's arguments in its defense on Friday.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Hamas, which Tel Aviv says killed around 1,200 people.

At least 23,357 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and 59,410 others injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.