Spanish politician slams international community for its silence over Israel's 'genocide'

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - The general secretary of Spain’s left-wing Podemos party criticized the international community on Tuesday for its silence in the face of Israel’s "attempt to exterminate" the Palestinian people.

Speaking at an event for the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People organized by Podemos in the capital Madrid, Ione Belarra, who previously served as minister of social rights, said a Europe that does not exert social, political, economic, diplomatic and legal pressure against Israel cannot lecture anyone about human rights.

She rejected Israel's "colonial" policy towards Palestinians.

"Why does Israel continue to commit genocide against Palestine with impunity?" she said.

Saying that Israel's systematic "genocide" of Palestinians started way earlier than Oct. 7, she stressed that "this must end."

Belarra called on European governments to be fair, adding they should impose sanctions on Israel as Russia has faced over its war against Ukraine.

European governments must not be complicit in this "genocide," she added.

Underlining that Israel "committed an inhumane massacre and the international community remained silent about it," Belarra accused large media outlets of acting as if Palestinians have no names or families while reporting all the details on the deaths of Israelis.

She reiterated her call for completely cutting diplomatic ties with Israel.

Israel launched a massive military campaign in the Gaza Strip following a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

It has since killed over 15,000 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to health authorities in the enclave.

The official Israeli death toll stands at 1,200.