'Israel' recalls ambassador from Madrid after Spanish PM criticism

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
30 Nov 2023 20:40

This comes after the Spanish Prime Minister stated he had "serious doubts Israel is complying with international humanitarian law."

Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen attends the plenary session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Ministerial Council meeting, in Skopje, North Macedonia, Nov. 30, 2023 (AP)

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on Thursday announced that "Israel" will bring back its ambassador from Madrid for consultations following Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's statement expressing concerns about "Israel's" adherence to international law due to the significant death toll in the Gaza Strip.

"After the outrageous words of the Spanish Prime Minister, who repeats baseless accusations, I decided to call the Israeli Ambassador to Spain and recall her for consultations in Jerusalem. Israel has and will act in accordance with international law, and we will continue the war until the release of all those abducted and the elimination of Hamas in the Gaza Strip," Cohen wrote on X.

Later in the day, the Israeli leader's office revealed that Cohen would engage in discussions with the Spanish ambassador to "Israel."

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today, has instructed Minister of Foreign Affairs Eli Cohen to summon the Spanish Ambassador to Israel for a reprimand following the shameful comments by the Spanish Prime Minister on the day that Hamas terrorists murdered Israelis in our capital Jerusalem," a statement, published on the prime minister's official website, read.

Israeli war crimes "unacceptable"

In an interview for Spanish state-owned broadcaster TVE earlier in the day, Sanchez raised concerns about the footage depicting the increasing civilian death toll, mainly among children, and stated, "I have serious doubts Israel is complying with international humanitarian law."

He condemned the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, particularly thousands of children, deeming such actions "completely unacceptable".

"The footage we are seeing and the growing numbers of children dying, I have serious doubt (Israel) is complying with international humanitarian law," he said

Last week, Sanchez urged "Israel" to rethink its strategy in Gaza, as he highlighted the "truly unbearable" number of Palestinians "Israel" killed.

The Spanish Prime Minister said the occupation's "response" to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood cannot include "the deaths of innocent civilians, including thousands of children."

Feud with Spain and Belgium

His requests came in the context of a visit to the Middle East by Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander de Croo, where both called for a "peace conference" and reiterated the need to create an independent Palestinian state, saying it remains the best way to bring "peace and security to the region."

In the first response to their remarks from Rafah, the Israeli foreign minister angrily accused them of "supporting terrorism" and a "murderous organization," also sounding Netanyahu's objection.

Albares later rejected "Israel's" comments, noting that "the accusations made by the Israeli government against the Prime Minister [Sanchez] and the Belgian Prime Minister are absolutely false and unacceptable. We categorically reject them."

De Croo has on his part emphasized his so-called "balanced" position, stating that Belgium condemns terrorism and opposes the killing of people on both sides.

"I said that humanitarian aid is not getting through [to the Gaza Strip] because of problems on Israel's part. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. I condemned the Hamas attacks and emphasized Israel's right to defend itself, of course within the framework of international law. I also stated that the killing of civilians on both sides must stop. That is a balanced message. We will invite the Israeli ambassador to Belgium for coffee and reiterate our position," De Croo told Belgian news agency Soir.