Spanish PM: 'Israel' can’t be EU partner while trampling on principles
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Pedro Sanchez accuses "Israel" of genocide in Gaza and urges the EU to act, citing violations of the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement.
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attends a session of parliament in Madrid, Wednesday, July 9, 2025 (AP)
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated on Wednesday that "Israel" is carrying out genocide in Palestine and criticized the European Union for not doing enough to intervene.
“No one that tramples on the EU’s founding principles, or that uses hunger and war to annihilate a legitimate state, can be a partner of the European Union,” Sanchez stated.
Addressing the Spanish parliament, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez directed criticism at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, arguing that its genocide in Gaza would go down in history as one of the 21st century’s most devastating chapters.
The prime minister added that “the horrifying images of children searching for their families under rubble, or dying of hunger in tents, should not only move us and shame us, they should compel the international community, and Europe in particular, to act."
Sanchez explained that Spain and Ireland had initially called on the European Union in February 2024 to review whether "Israel" was adhering to the terms of the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, emphasizing that significant effort was required to ensure the assessment was finally conducted.
Sanchez stated that the EU’s special representative had submitted the report to foreign ministers on June 23, which found there were "more than sufficient indications" that "Israel" had breached Article 2 of the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, a clause that ties bilateral cooperation to adherence to human rights principles.
Sanchez noted that despite the EU's inaction regarding "Israel", Spain is actively advocating for the prompt termination of the bilateral accord.
The Spanish PM's statements come as the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza continues unabated, with the death toll continuing to surge towards the 60,000 killed mark.
Death toll in Gaza nears 60,000
The Health Ministry in Gaza stated on July 9 that Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip had resulted in 105 Palestinian fatalities and 530 injuries over 24 hours, as the bombardment continued unabated.
The report further indicated that the attacks had killed seven individuals and wounded over 57 others while they were attempting to access humanitarian aid, with the cumulative toll of such incidents involving civilians seeking food assistance now reaching 773 fatalities and more than 5,101 wounded since the beginning of the conflict.
According to health authorities, the ongoing military offensive initiated by Israeli forces on October 7, 2023, has resulted in 57,680 fatalities and 137,409 injuries to date, affecting civilian populations across all age groups. The Israeli war on Gaza is causing extensive damage to residential neighborhoods, shelters for displaced persons, and essential infrastructure, significantly worsening the already dire humanitarian situation in the blockaded coastal enclave.
The Health Ministry reported 7,118 deaths and 25,368 injuries since March 18, 2025, with officials warning of collapsing healthcare systems due to fuel shortages, overwhelmed hospitals, and rising displacement amid continued threats.
