On Thursday, Spain announced its decision to support South Africa’s case at the UN’s highest court, where Pretoria has accused Israel of committing “genocide” in the Gaza Strip. This development comes shortly after Spain, alongside Ireland and Norway, formally recognized the state of Palestine, prompting a strong response from Israel.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, emphasized that their primary objective is to halt the ongoing conflict and advance towards a two-state solution. “Our sole aim is to end the war and make progress towards the two-state solution,” Albares stated during a press conference.
When questioned about whether he considered Israel’s actions in Gaza to be genocide, Albares deferred to the court’s judgment. “Currently, we observe a large-scale conflict in Gaza that fails to differentiate between civilian and military targets, which poses a significant risk of regional spillover,” he remarked.
Spain’s decision marks a notable shift as no European country had previously joined South Africa’s proceedings at the UN court. Ireland, however, has also indicated its intention to participate in the case.
In addition to Spain, several Latin American nations, including Colombia and Mexico, have expressed their support for South Africa’s legal action. These countries aim to address the severe humanitarian concerns arising from the conflict and seek accountability through international legal mechanisms.
Spain’s involvement underscores a growing international concern over the situation in Gaza and reflects a broader push for legal and diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict and address allegations of human rights violations.
