Sanchez urges West not to use 'double standards' on Ukraine, Gaza

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday called on Western countries not to adopt a policy of "double standards" in the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

"We cannot be accused of applying double standards that would undermine our support for Ukraine," Sanchez said in a speech on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, calling for "the same unity and consistency in Gaza as against the Russian occupation in Ukraine."

"If we tell our people that we support Ukraine because we defend international law, we must do the same with regard to Gaza," the Spanish prime minister added, calling for a "firm political position" on the issue "without adopting a policy of double standards."

"We must create the conditions for an immediate and urgent ceasefire," Sanchez stressed, adding, "If we demand respect for international law in Ukraine, we must also demand respect for it in Gaza," while warning of the risk of escalation on the border with Lebanon.

Spain has emerged in recent months as one of the most critical voices within the European Union of Benjamin Netanyahu's government, and at the end of May, the Sanchez government, along with Ireland and Norway, recognized the state of Palestine, in a move that angered Israel.

Since October 7, Israel has been waging a devastating war on Gaza with American support, leaving more than 126,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing amid massive destruction and famine that has claimed the lives of dozens of children.

Tel Aviv continues the war, ignoring the UN Security Council resolutions to stop it immediately, and the International Court of Justice orders to take measures to prevent acts of genocide and improve the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.