Madrid: The Spanish government has announced a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, a move prompted by ongoing conflict in Gaza. This decision underscores Spain's commitment to addressing human rights concerns and marks a significant shift in its foreign policy.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the embargo was announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and expands upon previous partial restrictions. The new measures include a ban on arms exports, fuel transit, and imports of products and services from the occupied Palestinian territory. Spain joins other countries with similar partial bans but now leads with a comprehensive prohibition, as noted by Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo in statements reported by El Pais and TRT World.
The Spanish government, through spokesperson and Education Minister Pilar Alegria, emphasized its position on recognizing Palestine. Alegria highlighted Spain's pioneering efforts in the international arena, citing recent recognitions by other nations such as France, Portugal, Canada, the UK, and Australia. This aligns with Prime Minister Sanchez's earlier statements at the United Nations advocating for a two-state solution.
Prime Minister Sanchez has also called for Palestine's admission as a full member of the United Nations. Speaking at a UN pre-assembly meeting in New York, following a summit led by France, Sanchez emphasized the urgency of this initiative. He described the conference as a pivotal moment and urged for the completion of Palestine's integration into the UN on equal terms with other member states.