Amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Spain and Israel, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez spoke by phone with Israeli Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz.
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| Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez tries to ease tensions with Israel. (Source: Anadolu) |
“Once again, I condemn the terrorist attack by Hamas on October 7,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shared about his phone call with Mr. Benny Gantz on the X website (formerly Twitter) on December 1.
Describing Israel as "Spain's partner and friend", Pedro Sanchez told Benny Gantz that Israel had the "right to defend itself" against the attack but "reaffirmed that Spain finds the loss of civilian lives in Gaza intolerable and that Israel must comply with international humanitarian law".
Mr. Benny Gantz also said on page X that he stressed to Mr. Sanchez that "for the security, the sense of safety of the people of Israel and the restoration of stability in the region", Hamas must "be destroyed in Gaza" and affirmed, "The State of Israel attaches great importance to avoiding civilian casualties as much as possible".
Benny Gantz, a former defense minister and one of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rivals, was appointed war minister after the October 7 attack.
A day earlier, Israel recalled its ambassador to Spain, Rodica Radian, over what Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen called “heinous” statements by Prime Minister Sanchez questioning Israel’s respect for international humanitarian law and reiterating that military action in the Gaza Strip was unacceptable.
This is the latest development in the growing diplomatic tension between Israel and Spain.
Last week, Israel summoned the Spanish ambassador to Israel and said Spain was "supporting terrorism", after Prime Minister Sanchez said Israel was not respecting international law in its attacks on Gaza.
In response, Spain summoned the Israeli ambassador, criticizing Israel's description of Prime Minister Sanchez as "false" and "unacceptable".
According to Anadolu , the Spanish government is one of the most outspoken European countries in criticizing Israel's response to Hamas attacks.
On November 30, Mr. Sanchez also warned that “what will happen in Gaza after the cycle of violence ends will also be unacceptable.”
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