Could Spain set the red line in support of Gaza?

By: Hassan Asfour

Since news in all its languages reacted to the UAE statement on a “red line” against the settler-colonial entity state, should it annex the West Bank — and multiple Arab countries endorsed it — no single practical step has been taken that could convey a serious message in that regard, despite the statement not being linked to the genocidal war in the Gaza Strip.

Perhaps the parties applauding the UAE statement were content merely to remove annexation from the enemy government’s agenda, seeing that as a “clear victory,” and it may fit their political calculations not to be drawn into unwanted paths. They seem not to remember that suspending discussion is not the same as erasing it; rather, the occupying state can carry out practical forms of annexation quietly, build a fully fledged settler system, and impose apartheid in the West Bank, while East Jerusalem has long been taken forward in Judaization and de facto annexation.

The Arab ministerial meeting on September 4, 2025, was the clarifying message about the true nature of the “red line” statement: it was nothing more than a letter of complaint in the face of rapidly growing international developments that outran Arab rulers’ thinking. These developments included nonstop marches and campaigns targeting everything related to the entity-state, countries taking concrete measures such as arms bans and investment disassociation, bans on entry for “terrorist” ministers, refusal to receive ambassadors from Netanyahu’s government, and ongoing debates within institutions of the non-Arab world, especially parliaments, accompanied by moves toward recognition of the State of Palestine.

By contrast, there was no practical step from the Arab establishment — not against the Jewish fascist government over de facto annexation or the genocidal war — but rather measures aimed at the U.S. ban on President Abbas and his delegation entering New York to attend the UN General Assembly in mid-September and a two-state solution conference, as they began preparing to accept a compromise in the form of his political “Zoom” address.

Amid official Arab satisfaction with their “red” statement, a major story emerged in Hebrew media revealing that the Spanish government, which — along with Ireland and Norway — had led the path of recognizing the State of Palestine before France and President Macron, is studying a large package of sanctions against the settler-colonial entity-state. Those measures include personal sanctions against Netanyahu himself, thus setting a political precedent, and measures against ministers including Katz, Ben Gvir and Smotrich — figures identified with the crime of mass extermination in Gaza.

If approved, Spain’s major sanctions package would be the most politically significant action by a European state against the entity-state since 1948, redefining it from a country that claims to be democratic to a state pursued under international humanitarian law; in doing so, it opens a door that had been closed to punishing a state that has committed war crimes beyond any predecessor.

Spain’s sanctions package would not be confined to the Kingdom’s borders; it would hit “active enemies” of the entity-state — other countries that stood early against the genocidal war, did not flinch before American intimidation, and did not flinch before the uproar of mob campaigns accusing them of anti-Semitism. Such stances have become entrenched within the European establishment, which served as a protective wall for the occupying entity-state since its formation over Palestine.

Politically noteworthy is that, as the Spanish government prepares its sanctions package, it links the genocidal war in Gaza with Judaization operations in the West Bank and Jerusalem — a connection completely absent from the Emirati statement — indicating a comprehensive vision for holding the occupying state accountable.

Will the “red line” for pursuing the state for war crimes and genocide in Gaza be imposed by Spain rather than by Arab countries? That is the big question.

Note: It is striking that as the enemy army announced its campaign to complete the destruction of Gaza City — to impose forced displacement — the Trump administration ran a promotional campaign about a deal, and Hamas, which cares neither for homeland nor people nor, of course, the cause, accepted the bait. Trump tossed them a “morsel” and they couldn’t resist grabbing it. Well, you “lacking in mind, religion and patriotism” — the Americans need a retiree to act as mediator. Truly, the foolishness among you is remarkable.

Special note: The victory of the film “The Voice of Hind Rajab” with the Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival is a milestone in the course of an eternal curse pursuing the Jewish state. Crimes must be punished — and punishment is coming, coming — and it will not be “Gone with the Wind.” It will come after them, after them, no matter how long the “Arab” rulers live.