On the day that coincides with Israel’s first sigh of relief since October 7 – with the release of the first 13 hostages captured that day by Hamas – a dispute bordering on a diplomatic crisis breaks out between the Jewish state on the one hand, Spain and Belgium on the other. Two countries that are not generally considered “heavyweights” on the international stage, but which have a special role to play at this moment: they lead the political work of the European Union and hold the rotating Council Presidency in the current half-year and the next. The Israeli Foreign Minister decided this afternoon, on the direct recommendation of Benjamin Netanyahu, to invite the ambassadors of both countries to give them a “reprimand” for what the respective prime ministers said this morning during their visit to the Rafah border crossing. In fact, on the first day of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Pedro Sanchez and Alexander De Croo made a surprise visit to the Egyptian “gate” to the Gaza Strip. To deliver a fairly clear message, but one that was ultimately indigestible to Israel. “We must replace violence with hope.” “It is time to end the endless cycle of violence that has condemned the region for decades: it is time to instead create a horizon of peace, security and prosperity Sanchez said, expressing hope that the current ceasefire will be permanent. However, the Spanish prime minister infuriated Israel when he called “the indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians, including thousands of children” in the Gaza Strip unacceptable.
Back and forth
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen then condemned the “false statements” from Spain and Belgium and accused them of nothing less than “supporting terrorism.” “Israel acts in accordance with international law and fights a terrorist organization that is worse than ISIS, that fights war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said Cohen, justifying the summoning of the two ambassadors. But Spain’s countermove was not long in coming. After calling the Israeli government’s allegations “completely false and unacceptable,” Madrid summoned Israeli Ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon that evening to seek explanations for the incident.
November 24, 2023
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