Slovenia joins Spain in calling for EU-Israel deal suspension over Lebanon strikes

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob on Thursday backed Spain’s call to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon and rising civilian casualties.

In a post shared by the government account on the US social media company X, Golob said: "Despite the ceasefire agreement Israel is hitting Lebanon in the hardest way possible. We are witnessing indiscriminate strikes against densely populated areas with very high number of civilian casualties, including children."

He added that Israel is "ruthlessly violating the international law, impeding peace efforts and increasing further the suffering of the Lebanese population."

Golob expressed support for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, stating: "I join the call of the Prime Minister of Spain for suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement."

He also warned against further escalation, saying: "We should not let Lebanon become the new Gaza."

Sanchez on Wednesday urged the suspension of the 1995 Association Agreement with Israel, which governs trade and political cooperation, following a new wave of strikes on Lebanon that he described as the "harshest attack" since the offensive began.

Israel carried out one of its largest strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday since launching its military offensive against Hezbollah early last month. The attacks killed at least 254 people and wounded 1,165, according to Lebanon’s Civil Defense.

The escalation has raised concerns about a potential renewed Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, possibly extending to the Litani River.