In remarks to the Spanish parliament, Sanchez criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, noting that its actions "will remain in our memory as one of the darkest chapters of the 21st century."
Sanchez confirmed that Spain and Ireland had asked the European Union in February 2024 to assess the extent of compliance with the EU-Israel Association Agreement.
He referred to the report issued by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaya Kallas, on the agreement on June 23, saying, "The report concluded that there is more than sufficient evidence that Israel has violated Article 2 of the agreement, which is based on respect for human rights."
He stressed that the European Union has not yet taken any steps against Israel, adding: "No one can trample on the founding principles of the European Union and use hunger (in Gaza) as a weapon to eliminate a legitimate state (Palestine) that is a partner of the European Union."
The Spanish Prime Minister criticized Europe for not doing enough to stop the genocide, stressing the need not to allow Netanyahu to commit in Palestine what Russian President Vladimir Putin is accused of committing in Ukraine.
He added, "We cannot be complicit in the greatest genocide this century has witnessed by succumbing to indifference, hesitation, or political calculations."
The Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel was signed in Brussels on 20 November 1995 and entered into force on 1 June 2000, after being ratified by the parliaments of the EU member states, the European Parliament, and the Israeli Knesset.
Article 2 of the Partnership Agreement stipulates that relations between the two parties are based on "human rights."
Since October 7, 2023, Israel, with US support, has been committing genocide in Gaza, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international appeals and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
The genocide left more than 195,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands displaced.
