Spain’s Sánchez demands Israeli-Palestinian peace summit

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Thursday called for an international peace summit to find a long-term solution to the Israel-Hamas crisis.

“It’s important that we have on the horizon a peace summit where we can channel the engagement of the international community to reach a final agreement, a peace agreement between Israel and Palestine with the two-state solution,” Sánchez said on arrival at the European Council summit in Brussels.

Sánchez has been notably vocal in calling for a cease-fire in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Palestinian-controlled territory, in contrast to other EU leaders who have shied away from that demand. Israel continues to retaliate for a violent attack by Hamas militants earlier this month which killed more than 1,400 Israelis.

“As prime minister of Spain, I would like to see a cease-fire for humanitarian purposes,” Sánchez said. “But if we don’t have that condition, at least a humanitarian pause in order to channel all the humanitarian aid that [the] Palestinian population needs urgently.”

The need for a “humanitarian pause” is pressing, Sánchez added, to allow a corridor to be opened to deliver all the humanitarian aid Palestinians in Gaza need, as well as to help local NGOs do their jobs.

Following Hamas’ deadly assault in early October, Israel has carried out relentless lethal airstrikes and put the Gaza Strip under a “complete siege,” cutting off fuel, electricity and water.

While Sánchez said he supports Israel’s right to defend itself, he echoed other EU leaders in saying that defense must be carried out within the limits of humanitarian and international law. He called images of the suffering in Gaza “unacceptable.”

“I cannot imagine the situation in Palestine, in the Gaza Strip, where close to half the population are kids,” Sánchez said. “It’s very important that we send a clear message of humanity, empathy with these people that are suffering this terrible situation.”

He also wants to find a two-state solution with all speed.

“The international community already recognizes Israel and now what we need to do is to recognize the Palestinian state,” he said.

Leaders from the EU’s 27 member countries are slated discuss the conflict in the Middle East, among other pressing topics, at their summit Thursday and Friday.