Ministers from Muslim and European nations together with the European Union’s international affairs chief gathered Friday in Madrid to debate methods to advance a two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian battle.
“Collectively, we wish to determine the concrete actions that may allow us to make progress in the direction of this goal,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez wrote on social community X.
“The worldwide neighborhood should take a decisive step in the direction of a simply and lasting peace within the Center East,” the Socialist premier added.
Sanchez welcomed contributors at his official residence earlier than the beginning of the assembly on the international ministry in central Madrid, hosted by his high diplomat Jose Manuel Albares.
In attendance had been Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and the international ministers of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey — all members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza — in addition to the heads of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
The European Union was represented by its international affairs chief Josep Borrell in addition to the international ministers of Eire, Norway and Slovenia along with Spain.
“The implementation of the two-state resolution is the one manner to make sure a simply and lasting peace within the area by way of the peaceable and safe coexistence of the state of Palestine and the state of Israel,” Albares instructed a information convention.
Requested about Israel’s absence from the assembly, he stated the nation had not been invited as a result of it belonged “neither to the group of Europeans nor to the Arab-Islamic contact group” however harassed he can be “delighted” if Israel took half in discussions on the two-state resolution.
Requires the answer have grown for the reason that outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, which started with Hamas’s October 7 assault on Israel.
That assault resulted within the deaths of 1,205 individuals, largely civilians, in response to an AFP tally based mostly on Israeli figures.
The militants additionally seized 251 hostages, 97 of whom are nonetheless in Gaza, together with 33 the Israeli navy says are useless.
Israel has responded with an offensive that has killed at the very least 41,118 individuals in Gaza, in response to the well being ministry within the Hamas-run territory. The UN rights workplace says a lot of the useless are girls and youngsters.
Sanchez has been one of many staunchest critics in Europe of Israel’s Gaza offensive for the reason that begin of the battle.
Beneath his watch, Spain on Could 28 together with Eire and Norway formally recognised a Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Financial institution.
Earlier this month he introduced that the primary “bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine” can be held earlier than the tip of the 12 months. He stated he anticipated “a number of collaboration agreements between the 2 states” to be signed.
