ISTANBUL

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday reaffirmed his country’s commitment to raising its voice “more strongly than ever” to end the ongoing violence in Gaza.

“One year after recognizing Palestine as a state, the pain in Gaza is unbearable,” Sanchez said on X.

He underlined that Spain will continue to call for an end to what he described as the "massacre the world is witnessing today."

Spain formally recognized the State of Palestine in May 2024 -- a move Sanchez has described as essential to advance peace in the Middle East and uphold the two-state solution.

The Spanish government has repeatedly condemned the high civilian death toll in Gaza and urged Israel to comply with international humanitarian law.

The Israeli military, rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, has pursued a devastating offensive against Gaza since October 2023, killing over 54,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.

In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions against civilians in the enclave.