Spain says Israeli offensive 'makes no sense unless it wants to turn Gaza into vast cemetery'

OVIEDO, Spain

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Tuesday that Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip “makes no sense, unless it wants to turn Gaza into a vast cemetery.”

“The time for words and statements is over – what is happening in Gaza is too serious,” he told reporters in Brussels, where he attended a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

At the urging of Spain and 16 other nations, the EU on Tuesday agreed to review its Association Agreement with Israel, which grants the country trade privileges.

In February 2024, Spain and Ireland had sent a letter requesting a review of the pact, which states the EU-Israel relationship must be based on respect for human rights. The bloc only now decided to act on that call.

Albares said more countries were now “ready” and had come to share Spain’s position.

“We have a deliberate action on Israel’s part to block humanitarian aid, and therefore, induce famine,” he said.

Describing the situation in Gaza as “unsustainable, unbearable, inhumane,” he said the EU must do “everything possible” to bring it to an immediate end.​​​​​​​

“If the population in Gaza isn’t killed by bombs, they’ll die of hunger or a lack of health support,” he said. “We cannot tolerate one more minute of this.”

Albares said he was aware that Israel was preparing a new system to distribute humanitarian aid.

“Although we are still lacking details, the system does not appear to align with humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and independence, and it will not allow unconditional distribution to all those in need,” he added.

Also on Tuesday, the UK said it would pause trade talks with Israel, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer calling the humanitarian situation “intolerable.”