Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez says EU coming closer to Spain’s vision on Gaza

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emerged from Wednesday’s meeting with other EU leaders relatively optimistic, saying he has noticed the bloc coming closer to Spain’s vision about the crisis in Gaza.

He defined the Spanish vision with two words: “Coherence and responsibility.”

“We have to condemn any attacks on the civilian population or attempts to undermine international law, whether that happens in Ukraine or the Middle East,” he said in a press conference from Brussels.

“Consequently, we must prevent escalation and bet on peace and the rules-based international order."

During the Special European Council, the bloc called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and for Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian aid to those in need — two positions Spain has been defending since soon after the conflict began last October.

While condemning Iran’s attack on Israel, the EU also urged all parties to “exercise the utmost restraint and to refrain from any actions that may increase tensions in the region.”

The meeting in Brussels wrapped up Sanchez’s tour to try to convince more EU nations to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

“The tour was very positive, I’ve seen a lot of similarities when it comes to this humanitarian catastrophe,” he said, saying Spain is playing a “vanguard” role in trying to promote peace.

While Norway was the only new country to agree to recognize Palestine during the tour, Slovenia and Ireland recommitted to doing the same as soon as the situation allowed for it.

Sanchez still has not set a date for recognizing Palestine, but he said that the upcoming debates and votes in the UN about allowing Palestine to become a full member will be important to monitor.

During the tour, the Portuguese leader also promised Sanchez that his government would recognize Palestine as a full UN member.

During the press conference, Sanchez said his country has “very, very good relations with Türkiye,” since the bloc held a strategic debate on EU-Türkiye relations.