The international community is ramping up pressure on Israel to stop its war in Gaza, with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares calling for sanctions against Israel. Albares made the statement ahead of a high-level meeting in Madrid, which aims to halt Israel’s punishing offensive in Gaza.
The meeting, known as “The Madrid Group,” brings together 20 countries and international organizations to discuss ways to stop the war and break the blockade of humanitarian assistance to Gaza. Albares emphasized that the war has no goal and that nations must consider all options to stop it, including sanctions. “We must consider sanctions, we must do everything, consider everything to stop this war,” he said.
The Madrid meeting comes as Israel’s aid blockade fuels a looming famine in Gaza, with Palestinian deaths and starvation increasing daily. The United Nations has described the amount of aid allowed into Gaza as a “drop in the ocean,” while aid groups have called Israel’s announcement to allow limited aid a “smokescreen.” Germany’s Deputy Foreign Minister Florian Hahn also warned about the impact of Gaza’s deteriorating humanitarian crisis, calling for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic solution.
The meeting will serve as preparation for a high-level UN conference on the two-state solution, which France and Saudi Arabia will host in New York on June 17. Albares said the conference must be a “big moment to push towards recognition of the state of Palestine.” The Madrid gathering will promote a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with representatives from the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in attendance.
Israel’s deadly assault has killed almost 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with aid organizations saying the trickle of supplies allowed into Gaza falls far short of needs. Israel has allowed some 100 trucks carrying aid into Gaza since Wednesday, but aid groups say the daily need is between 500-600 trucks.
In a related development, the UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that people in Gaza are enduring “the cruellest phase” of the war. The international community is urging Israel to allow more aid into Gaza and to work towards a diplomatic solution to the conflict.