MADRID: Spain’s PM on Thursday called on the international community to “raise its voice” to prevent the plight of Palestinians from being forgotten, during a meeting with Palestinian Authority leader Mahmud Abbas.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also repeated Madrid’s support for a two-state solution, describing it as “the only possible solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He stressed that the recent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza must be real and not “fictitious,” and insisted that attacks on civilians must end.
“The year 2025 has been terrible for the Palestinian people,” the Socialist prime minister said as he stood alongside Abbas in Madrid.
“Genuine peace must be based on justice. Those responsible for this genocide will be held accountable, sooner or later.”
Abbas thanked Spain for recognizing the State of Palestine in May 2024 and praised Madrid’s leadership in building an international coalition to expand recognition. He also called for an end to violence in Gaza and the West Bank.
Spain, where support for the Palestinian cause is strong, has been one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 that began the war.