Spain imposes sanctions on Israeli settlers involved in terror attacks in West Bank
Madrid (Quds News Network) – Spain’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Jose Manuel Albarez, announced on Monday that the country would impose unilateral sanctions on approximately 12 Israeli colonists involved in terror attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Addressing the Joint Committee of the Spanish House of Representatives, Minister Albarez stated that the Spanish government had initiated the imposition of sanctions on “a first group of 12 violent settlers.”
Furthermore, Albarez revealed that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had accepted Spain’s request for the European bloc to review its association agreement with Israel. The review is to be conducted based on the potential violations of international humanitarian law by Israel.
Minister Albarez emphasized the importance of supporting the decisions made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which had previously ordered Israel to refrain from any genocidal practices against the Palestinian people. He called upon all parties involved to comply with these provisional orders.
In addition to these measures, the Spanish Minister urged donor countries to continue providing financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Spain is preparing a new financial package to reinforce its support for UNRWA, building on the emergency assistance worth €3.5 million ($3.7 million) that Spain had previously sent. This commitment comes in response to the reduction of funding from Western nations following allegations that some of its members were involved in the October 7 attack.
“Without UNRWA, the fates of many of the 6 million Palestinian refugees it helps is doomed,” Minister Albarez emphasized. “Spain will completely oppose the suspension of funding for the organization. Today, more than ever, the funding is needed.”
The Spanish Minister also advocated for the European Union to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, stressing the urgency of this call amidst the looming threat of an Israeli military expansion into the densely populated city of Rafah.
