courtesy: CTV News
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The Israeli government said Friday that it would summon the Belgian and Spanish ambassadors following remarks by the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo regarding the war between Hamas and Israel.
The announcement comes after two leaders arrived at Egypt’s Rafah border, where 13 Israeli hostages were released by Hamas as a a part of their temporary truce deal, and gave a press conference wherein they blamed Israel for the suffering of Palestinians.
Sanchez also called upon European Union for recognition of Palestinian state, adding that Spain might do so on its own.
Speaking at a joint press conference, the Spanish leader said that the time has come that international community and the European Union come together to recognise Palestinian state for once and for all. He added that it would be better if EU did it together, “but if this is not the case… Spain will take their own decision.”
Spain currently holds the EU’s rotational presidency, which will taken over by Belgium in January.
Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister De Croo did not comment on the recognition of Palestine, but stressed over the point that violence must end. He also spoke about liberating the hostages and allowing humanitarian aid in the enclaved Gaza as his “first priority is [to] help people who are suffering.”
Israel later lashed out at the two prime ministers for not placing full responsibilities on Hamas militants, who not only killed their civilians in October 7 attacks, but also used Gaza civilians as human shields.
“We condemn the false claims of the prime ministers of Spain and Belgium who give support to terrorism,” said Eli Cohen, Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Late Friday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares responded to the summons. “The Israeli government’s accusations against the President of the Government and the Belgian Prime Minister are totally false and unacceptable,” he said in a statement. “We categorically reject them.”