Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares demanded on Saturday that Israel obey an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling calling for an immediate halt to its military operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Albares wrote on social media platform X that the ICJ ruling was “mandatory” and demanded “a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access.”
“The suffering of the people of the Gaza Strip and the violence must end,” he added.
Spain is one of Europe’s fiercest critics of Israeli actions in Gaza. Madrid suspended all arms exports to Israel shortly after Israel launched its military response to the October 7 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Earlier this week, Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, said it would recognize Palestine as a state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by summoning the ambassadors of the three countries.
The diplomatic row continued on Friday when Israel announced restrictions on the activities of the Spanish embassy in Tel Aviv and its consulate in East Jerusalem.
The measure followed a post on in denying Israel’s right to exist. .
