A firm reminder of Madrid. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Spanish government of socialist Pedro Sánchez warned Israel this Saturday that the orders issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) are “binding” and demanded their compliance.
“The ICJ’s orders, including the order to halt the Israeli offensive in Rafah, are binding. We demand their application,” Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares wrote on the social network X. “This also concerns the ceasefire, the release of hostages and access to humanitarian aid. The suffering of the people of Gaza and the violence must end,” he added.
International pressure
The UN’s highest court on Friday ordered Israel to “immediately” stop its military offensive in Rafah, a decision likely to add to international pressure for a truce after more than seven months of war.
The ICJ, which sits in The Hague, also ordered Israel to keep the Rafah crossing open to allow “unrestricted” access to humanitarian aid. The court also called for the immediate release of people taken hostage by Hamas during its October 7 attack on Israel.
The orders of the ICJ, which decides disputes between states, are legally binding but it has no way of enforcing them.
VideoICJ orders Israel to “immediately” stop military offensive in Rafah
“Free from the river to the sea”
Spain has been one of the most critical European countries towards Israel since the start of the current conflict in Gaza. The Israeli government of Benjamin Netanyahu recalled its ambassador to Madrid this week for consultations, after Spain, Ireland and Norway announced on Wednesday that they would recognize the State of Palestine.
Israel also announced on Friday that it had “decided to cut the link” between the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem and the Palestinians, also due to an “anti-Semitic call” from the number three in the Spanish government, Yolanda Díaz, leader. of the far-left Sumar party and Minister of Labor. “Today we welcome the fact that Spain recognizes the State of Palestine,” but “we cannot stop there. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea,” Yolanda Díaz said on X, denouncing a “genocide of the Palestinian people.”
