Spain's deputy premier to visit Palestine, says it's 'urgent' to move from words to actions
In her announcement, Diaz said she believes that Spain needs to do more.
OVIEDO - Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister Yolanda Diaz announced Wednesday that she will travel to Palestine to demand an immediate ceasefire, Anadolu Agency reported.
"We are witnessing a violation of international law, a flagrant violation of human rights with an international community that is being authentically hypocritical,” she told local media.
Diaz is the leader of Sumar, the junior coalition party in the Spanish government.
The El Pais daily reported that Spain’s Foreign Ministry is not involved in the trip and ministry sources emphasised that only the Spanish prime minister and foreign minister represent Spain’s foreign policy.
In her announcement, Diaz said she believes that Spain needs to do more.
"It’s not enough to pressure the European community,” she said, adding that her party has been urging the government to take concrete actions like backing South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
"This is why I will do everything possible to travel to Palestine. Because it’s urgent to move from words to actions,” she added.
During her trip, she said she will meet with Palestine’s Minister of Labour Nasri Abu Jaish, where the two nations will sign a memorandum related to work.
On Wednesday, Spain and Ireland sent a formal letter to the European Commission urging it to reconsider its relationship with Israel amid potential human rights violations.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and top diplomats have also been pushing for a peace conference, which would focus on getting the international community to recognise a viable Palestinian state.
But Spain’s government also came under fire this week for reportedly allowing arms sales to Israel after Oct 7, despite government authorities saying there was an effective embargo in place.
The government denies that it authorised any arms sales after Oct 7, but reports from El Diario and the Delas Centre for Peace Studies found that Spain sold nearly US$1 million worth of ammunition to Israel in November.
This revelation outraged several high-ranking politicians, including ministers from Diaz’s Sumar party.
It is unclear exactly when Diaz's trip will take place, but she said she received an invitation from her Palestinian counterpart around two weeks ago. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU
