Pedro Sánchez has chaired a meeting of the Council of the Socialist International in Istanbul, the organization that brings together more than a hundred social democratic, socialist, and labor parties from around the world, led by the head of the Spanish government since November 2022. In his speech, the Prime Minister has called on his colleagues to stand up against the attacks and massacre that Israel is carrying out in Gaza. "The current situation is unacceptable, and we will not remain silent. Indifference is not an option for the international community."
Sánchez has been championing the Palestinian cause since the beginning of the war. A year ago, Spain recognized the state of Palestine, and now our country is preparing a resolution project with Palestine for the United Nations General Assembly, demanding that Israel end the humanitarian blockade imposed on Gaza and allow full and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid. "Should we remain indifferent to the suffering of parents carrying their newborns dead in their arms? Should we remain indifferent to the risk of hundreds of children dying of hunger? Enough is enough. We will continue to raise our voice against the flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law."
The head of the government has taken advantage of the presence of social democrats from around the world - among the attendees was Santos Cerdán, who has accompanied him from Madrid - to highlight the steps taken by Spain, whose next goal is that UN resolution project. "They know that my government has spoken out about the dramatic situation in Gaza." Sánchez encourages socialists not to remain indifferent, while in Spain, his partners are asking him to sever ties with Israel and withdraw the Spanish ambassador from the country, a step that the government has not taken yet.
Sánchez, from Istanbul, has defended his approach that the solution to the conflict lies in the recognition of the two states. But until that political phase arrives, he wants to position himself as one of the international voices rising against Israel. "We must urge Israel to immediately stop the military operation to occupy Gaza." The leader of the Socialist International did not mention the word genocide in his speech. "Gaza belongs to and will continue to belong to the Palestinians, who have been expelled from their land. We urge Israel to end the blockade. It must immediately allow humanitarian aid to enter."
Sánchez also referred to the war in Ukraine, for which he called for a "just and lasting peace. Ukraine has the right to live in peace and enjoy freedom."
The other issue that Sánchez's intervention has focused on is the rise of the far right worldwide. "It may be on the rise," he admitted, to predict, immediately after, that "this reactionary wave will fail. This is what happens when nationalism becomes the only compass. While reactionaries divide societies, we build bridges."