Spain: We will not sell weapons to Israel during its war on Gaza

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez stressed that his country will not sell weapons to Israel as long as it continues its war on the Gaza Strip.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez confirmed that his country will not sell weapons to Israel as long as it continues its war on the Gaza Strip.

This came in a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York City, USA, on Friday.

Albarez pointed out that Spain did not grant any new license to sell weapons to Israel after last October 7, adding: “We will not sell weapons to Israel as long as the current situation continues.”

He stressed that Spain announced its intention to provide financial funding worth 3.5 million euros for the benefit of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).

Since last October 7, Israel, which is on trial before the International Justice Commission on charges of committing “genocide” crimes against the Palestinians, has been waging a devastating war on Gaza that, as of Friday, has left 29,514 martyrs and 69,616 injured, most of them children and women, in addition to thousands. Missing people under the rubble, according to the Palestinian authorities.

Germany and the United States expressed their dissatisfaction with Israeli reports indicating the construction of thousands of new settlement units in the occupied West Bank, which may lead to adverse consequences for reaching permanent peace with the Palestinians and achieving a two-state solution.

Germany on Friday condemned Israeli plans to build thousands of new settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

At a press conference in Berlin, Deputy Spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry, Catherine Deschauer, said, “Israeli plans to build thousands of new settlement units in the occupied West Bank are contrary to international law.”

She added that her country "condemns the construction of new Israeli settlements, and its position on that is well known."

In turn, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock repeatedly criticized Israel's policy of building and expanding illegal settlements on the occupied Palestinian territories.

During her visit to a village in the West Bank last January, Birbock told reporters: Settlement “undermines lasting peace, puts the two-state solution at risk, and thus puts Israel’s security at risk.”

She added: "Palestinians must be able to live in safety, dignity and self-determination in their land."

The German Minister reaffirmed that "permanent peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution, which would enable Israel and the independent and democratic Palestinian state to live in peace side by side."​​​​​​

In this context, the United States on Friday expressed “disappointment” regarding Israel’s announcement of its intention to build new settlement units in the occupied West Bank.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said, during a press conference held with his Argentine counterpart Diana Mondino in Buenos Aires: “We saw the reports, and I must say that we are disappointed by Israel’s announcement of its intention to build 3,300 new settlement units.”

Blinken added, "It is long-standing American policy, under Republican or Democratic administrations, that new settlements are counterproductive to achieving lasting peace."

He stressed that "the new settlements are also not consistent with international law."

On Friday morning, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority (official) said, “It is expected that the relevant committee will meet within two weeks to approve the establishment of 2,350 housing units in the Maale Adumim settlement (east of East Jerusalem), about 300 in the Kedar settlement (southeast of East Jerusalem), and 700.” A unit in the Efrat settlement (south of Jerusalem).

The authority claimed that the decision comes "in response to the shooting attack on Thursday, near the Maale Adumim settlement, which resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier and the wounding of at least 8 others with varying injuries."

Regarding the attack, Blinken said that it was a “horrific terrorist,” adding that his country would continue to “fully support” Israel’s right to security and self-defense.

The Israeli "Peace Now" movement (a leftist group specializing in monitoring settlements in the Palestinian territories) estimates that more than 700,000 settlers reside in settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

The United Nations and the international community consider settlement in the territories occupied in 1967 “illegal,” and Israel calls to stop it to no avail, warning that it “undermines the chances of addressing the conflict in accordance with the principle of a two-state solution.”