Spain calls for ending all EU‑Israel agreements

Spain’s deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, called for the annulment of all partnership agreements between the European Union and Israel after an Israeli army attack on the “Global Steadfastness Fleet” and the arrest of more than 400 people from 44 different countries who were on board.

Díaz told reporters in Valencia: “I want to send a message to European society. We want more. We must cancel all partnership agreements with Israel. It is killing Palestinian children and violating the international law of Spanish activists and activists from around the world.”

She also asked, “Why does the European Union impose sanctions on Russia and not on Israel?” adding that “Netanyahu’s regime is illegitimate, violates humanitarian law, is committing a genocide broadcast live, and yet the European Union does nothing.”

The Spanish official said, “History will judge us because Netanyahu’s regime, wanted for war crimes, is being allowed to commit these acts.”

Díaz also demanded the immediate release of Spanish citizens detained by Israel, noting that Spain sets an example through its anti-Israel demonstrations.

For his part, Spain’s justice minister, Félix Bolaños, said his government had informed the Israeli government of the need to protect the rights of all members of the fleet because they are defending a just cause, “and therefore they have the support of the Spanish government.”

Bolaños added that the Spanish government highly values the hundreds of thousands of people around the world who organize peaceful demonstrations to pressure Israel to end the genocide against the Palestinian people, saying, “I express my full admiration for them because they are a model for the world.”

Over the past 48 hours, the Israeli navy seized 42 vessels belonging to the Global Steadfastness Fleet while they were sailing in international waters toward Gaza, and arrested hundreds of international activists on board.

The fleet issued a distress call after the Israeli army intercepted its ships in international waters, calling the escalation a “war crime.”

This is the first time dozens of ships have sailed together toward Gaza, home to some 2.4 million Palestinians, in a collective attempt to break the Israeli blockade of the Strip that has been in place for 18 years.

Since October 7, 2023, the occupying state, with U.S. support, has been committing what is described as a genocide in Gaza, which has left 66,288 dead and 169,165 wounded, most of them children and women, and a famine that has claimed the lives of 455 Palestinians, including 151 children.