Sanchez stressed the need to expedite the process for the State of Palestine to join the United Nations, placing it on an equal footing with other member states. He also called for an immediate end to the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, describing what is happening as "barbaric" and emphasizing the need for urgent steps to make peace possible.
The Spanish Prime Minister is one of the most prominent European voices criticizing the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, and has repeatedly reiterated his opposition to the behavior of the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Sanchez's call comes in the context of his country's recognition, along with Ireland and Norway, of the State of Palestine in May 2024, making Spain one of the European countries most critical of Israel.
In the same context, the capital, Madrid, witnessed massive pro-Palestinian protests on Sunday, with approximately 100,000 people participating, leading to the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España.
Sanchez expressed his "deep admiration" for the protesters and suggested excluding Israel from international sporting competitions as long as military operations in Gaza continue.
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On September 12, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a historic resolution, overwhelmingly adopting the New York Declaration (142 votes) in support of the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
On September 19, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution in favor of President Mahmoud Abbas's participation in a video-recorded speech at the annual meeting of world leaders in New York.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt the operation.
The genocide left 65,344 martyrs and 166,795 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that claimed the lives of 442 Palestinians, including 147 children
