Spanish FM Albares: Middle East needs 'peace' not weapons
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Spain halted providing arms to "Israel" in October 2023, coinciding with the start of the war on Gaza.
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Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares speaks to reporters during a news conference on February 23, 2024. (AP)
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has declared that his nation does not provide arms to the Israeli occupation, emphasizing that the Middle East "does not need weapons, but peace."
The Spanish foreign minister said in a press release on Friday that there have been no new licenses to ship weapons to "Israel" since October 2023, detailing that Spain will continue to prevent arms sales.
"Spain does not sell weapons to Israel or allow ships carrying weapons to Israel to stop in Spain," he went on to say.
Regarding the situation in Lebanon, Albares emphasized the need to support the Lebanese army as a cornerstone of domestic stability and fully implement Resolution 1701.
He emphasized his country's support for the Lebanon truce and called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The foreign minister also complimented the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) for being a "factor of stability" in the Strip, providing humanitarian help to two million inhabitants.
In late October, the Spanish Interior Ministry announced the cancellation of a contract to purchase ammunition from an Israeli company, demonstrating the government's commitment to include acquisitions as well as sales to "Israel."
Spanish radio station Cadena SER stated that Spain halted providing arms to "Israel" in October 2023, coinciding with the start of the Gaza war and that the government had reiterated its promise not to provide weapons to the occupation.
Spain boosts ICC funding, backs ICJ genocide case against 'Israel'
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," and announcing 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."
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."
