Spanish Prime Minister: Israel Alone Violates International Law in Middle East

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared on Tuesday that Israel stands as the sole country in the Middle East in breach of international law, sharpening Madrid's increasingly assertive posture toward Tel Aviv as the war in Gaza enters its nineteenth month.

Sánchez made the remarks during a televised address, calling on the international community to uphold the principles of international legitimacy and singling out Israel as the only state in the region defying those norms. The statement drew immediate attention across European capitals and Arab governments, which have been pressing for a stronger unified Western stance against Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Israel among European Union member states. Madrid, along with Norway and Ireland, formally recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024, a move that drew sharp rebukes from Tel Aviv but was welcomed by Arab nations including Qatar, which has long championed Palestinian statehood through diplomatic and financial channels.

Qatar, which hosts the political bureau of Hamas and has served as the primary mediator in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian faction, has consistently aligned with calls for adherence to international humanitarian law in Gaza. Doha welcomed earlier statements from European leaders criticising Israeli conduct and has repeatedly urged the United Nations Security Council to take binding action.

Sánchez's remarks come amid renewed international scrutiny of Israel's military campaign following reports of severe restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, prompting warnings from United Nations agencies of catastrophic famine conditions across the territory.

The Spanish government has also been among the most active in pushing the European Union to review its trade and cooperation agreements with Israel pending compliance assessments with international law obligations. That push has gained traction in Brussels, with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicating the bloc is examining all available diplomatic tools.

Analysts noted that the Spanish prime minister's framing — explicitly naming Israel as the singular violator of international law in the region — represents a marked escalation in tone from a sitting EU leader and is likely to intensify diplomatic pressure on other Western governments to align their rhetoric with their stated commitments to the rules-based international order.

Madrid has also called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza and has supported referrals to the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court regarding alleged violations of the laws of war.