Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged the international community to halt arms sales to Israel to prevent further escalation of conflict. This appeal follows recent attacks by Israeli forces on United Nations peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.
On Friday, Israeli troops fired upon a UN observation post in southern Lebanon, injuring two peacekeepers. This incident marks the third consecutive day of reported Israeli fire at UN positions amid ongoing clashes with Hezbollah.
After meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sanchez condemned the actions of the Israeli military, stating, “I must criticize and condemn the attacks that the Israeli armed forces are carrying out on the United Nations mission in Lebanon.” Thankfully, none of the Spanish soldiers involved in the mission were injured, according to the Spanish Defence Ministry.
Spain currently has 650 peacekeepers deployed in Lebanon, under the command of a Spanish general.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Sanchez announced that Spain has suspended all arms sales to Israel as of October 2023 and called on other nations to follow suit. “It is essential, given the current events in the Middle East, that the international community ceases weapon exports to the Israeli government,” he said, advocating for a united effort to address the escalating conflict in the region.
