Spain boosts ICC funding, backs ICJ genocide case against 'Israel'
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Spanish FM Jose Manuel Albares stresses that violence in Gaza and Lebanon has global repercussions, calling for the EU to re-examine its relationship with "Israel".
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Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares Bueno attends a meeting for talks on the Middle East in Brussels, on Sunday, May 26, 2024 (AP)
Spain on Thursday announced a €1.6 million ($1.7 million) funding increase for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague as it reaffirmed its commitment to upholding international law following the court's issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant.
The Spanish government also voiced support for South Africa's genocide case against "Israel" before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
"We want international law, not impunity, to prevail," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told parliament, noting that Spain is now among the ICC's top 10 financial contributors.
Albares further stressed that the violence in Gaza and Lebanon has global repercussions, calling for the EU to re-examine its relationship with "Israel".
The ICC last week issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Gallant citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
While several European nations have stated they would enforce the warrants, others, including France, remain hesitant.
Read more: Experts urge full compliance with Netanyahu, Gallant ICC warrants
Netanyahu has sought to challenge the ICC's jurisdiction by formally notifying the court of "Israel’s" intent to appeal. However, the ICC has already stated that its decisions are final and beyond appeal, leaving Netanyahu’s maneuver as little more than a performative deflection aimed at maintaining domestic and international support.
Humanitarian commitment
Spain also announced an additional €4 million in aid for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which Albares described as a "stabilizing factor" in the region.
The aid is part of Madrid's broader strategy to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Albares reiterated Spain's stance on the war, advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza, the return of Israeli captives, and the recognition of an independent Palestinian state.
He dismissed allegations of Spain selling arms to "Israel" or facilitating weapons shipments via its ports, labeling such claims as "misinformation."
Read more: Spain denies docking to US weapons vessels bound for 'Israel'
The announcement comes amidst heightened scrutiny of Israeli war crimes in Gaza, where an ongoing genocide has resulted in over 44,000 deaths, mostly among women and children, and more than 104,000 injuries.
"Peace in the Middle East will arrive because no stable future can be achieved on permanent violence," Albares said, urging the international community to act.
He concluded by emphasizing the need for Spain and the EU to promote dialogue and humanitarian efforts, ensuring that the path to peace is as "least painful as possible."
