Spanish premier says ‘Israel in a weaker position due to its response in Gaza’

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday that "Israel is in a much weaker position now due to its inhumane response" in the Gaza Strip.

Speaking in an interview with broadcaster La Sexta, where he was asked if he considered what Israel is doing a genocide, he replied: “I have my own vision on what’s happening. Are they respecting human rights in Gaza? I have my serious doubts.”

“I think any objective analyst would [think the same]. Look at the indiscriminate killing of civilians — women and children — and the unmatched destruction of Gaza, which will take decades to rebuild,” he said.

Speaking to those who defend Israel’s actions, he also put forward the question of whether the violence and destruction after Oct. 7, 2023 have been worth it. Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians since the initial Hamas attack that claimed 1,200 lives.

“Is Hamas more or less stronger than before? Is Israel more or less safe now than before the Oct. 7 attacks?” he asked, sharing his opinion that Israel has put itself in a weaker position.

Sanchez also announced that his government will not recognize the state of Palestine on May 21, as had been alluded to by the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell.

“It’s been delayed because we are coordinating to do it with other countries. I’m waiting to close the final details this weekend and talk about it with my colleagues after,” he explained.

He added that on May 22, when he is set to appear in the Spanish parliament, he plans on being able to announce the exact date when Spain and the other EU countries will recognize Palestine.

So far, EU nations such as Ireland, Slovenia, Norway, and Malta have committed to recognizing Palestine, though which countries could join in on that date remains unclear.

Sanchez pointed out that while many Western nations believe in a two-state solution, they have recognized Israel but not Palestine.

“After everything that’s happened since Oct. 7, it’s obvious that the Israeli premier doesn’t seem to agree with recognizing Palestine. So countries need to pick up the flag and recognize Palestine to keep the idea alive and open up a political horizon for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine,” he added.