TEHRAN – In a span of 50 days during the Israel-Hamas conflict, Spain made significant moves in response to the atrocities committed by the Zionist regime.

Examining news reports in Spain over the 50 days of the conflict, here is a compilation of key events: “The Barcelona City Council cuts ties with Israel”; “Spain’s Prime Minister declares intent to recognize Palestine State unless the European Union takes official action”; “Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister commits to imposing sanctions, diplomatic pressure, and an arms trade embargo against Israel at the beginning of the new government term”; “Spain’s Minister of Social Rights called for Benjamin Netanyahu to be brought before the International Criminal Court”; “Pro-Palestine protests erupt in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, ...”; “Spanish representative to the European Parliament submits Israel’s crimes dossier to the International Criminal Court.” 

These reports reflect Spain’s explicit responses in the past 50 days regarding developments in Palestine. They comprise clear statements and decisive actions that not only displeased the Zionist regime but also motivated them to accuse the Madrid government of “supporting terrorism”.

Pedro Sanchez, the recently reconfirmed Prime Minister of Spain, paid a visit on November 23 to the occupied territories and Egypt. During the trip, he met with Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of the Zionist regime, President Isaac Herzog, and Mahmoud Abbas, the chairman of the Palestinian self-governing bodies, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of Egypt. Sanchez, who had previously traveled to West Asia along with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, concluded the journey by announcing in a press conference at the Rafah crossing that “the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including thousands of children, is unacceptable”. He added that if the European Union fails to take action on this matter, Spain “will make its own decisions”.

Spain is among the countries that, from the very first days of the unprecedented intensification of conflicts between the Zionist regime and Palestinian resistance groups, raised the voice of support for Palestine through rallies in various cities. In addition to that, Spain, in contrast to many Western countries and a significant number of European leaders, stood alongside Palestine and the residents of Gaza which is now considered the world’s largest open-air prison. The noteworthy aspect is that Spain’s recent stances align perfectly with the historical approach of this country.

Spain was one of the last European countries to establish diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime. This happened when Spain had already initiated official relations with Palestine before Israel. Adolfo Suárez, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Spain after the Second Spanish Republic, and a key figure in Spain’s transition to democracy after Franco’s dictatorship, has taken a photo with Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1979, which symbolizes this connection between two countries. However, in 1986, it was Felipe González who officially began diplomatic relations with Israel.

The surprise operation by Hamas fighters happened on October 7 in response to the intensified atrocities of the Zionist regime. What followed was the relentless and criminal response of Benjamin Netanyahu’s regime against non-combatants in an attempt to eliminate Hamas. The 50-day-long conflict once again highlighted the role of the West in the current situation in Palestine. Spain’s decisive reaction in recent weeks indicates that the Spanish government might follow the path taken by Sweden in the past; in 2014, Sweden displayed explicit support for Palestine by officially recognizing it as a state unilaterally. However, the anticipated domino effect did not materialize, and the majority of European countries did not follow suit. It remains to be seen whether, given the most blatant form of Israeli military atrocities against unarmed and defenseless civilians in Gaza over the past 50 days, Spain’s positions will, at the most optimistic scenario, lead to the potential recognition of Palestinian State, creating a domino effect in the world.

The Spanish government previously rejected the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian State and always considered it conditional on a joint decision with other European partners. But now, Spain has taken a step further under the leadership of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Spain has expressed readiness to unilaterally recognize Palestine as a state even if the international community and the European Union delay making such a decision. 

It appears that the Spanish government, cognizant of the complexities involved in this action, aims to prioritize adherence to international laws over considering Israel’s alleged ‘right to self-defense’. From Spain’s perspective, this right to defense cannot justify a severely unbalanced war against the majority of civilians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Other than targeting children and female victims, Israel has been attacking hospitals and killing journalists as well. This has led Spain to not disregard the Zionist aggression against Palestine.

MAS/PA