Spain's PM slams Gaza's 'catastrophic situation of genocide'

The comments represent the strongest condemnation to date by the Socialist leader, an outspoken critic of the Israeli offensive in Gaza sparked by Hamas's 2023 attack on Israel.

Speaking to reporters before an EU summit in Brussels, Sánchez mentioned a recent human rights report by the bloc's diplomatic service which, he said, addressed "the catastrophic situation of genocide unfolding in Gaza".

The report published last week found "indications" that Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the deal, which forms the basis for trade ties.

The text cited Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid for the Palestinian territory, the high number of civilian casualties, attacks on journalists and the massive displacement and destruction caused by the war.

Sánchez said it was "more than obvious" that Israel was violating its obligations and that the bloc should suspend the cooperation deal "immediately".

"It makes no sense" that the bloc has imposed 18 rounds of sanctions on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine but, "in a double standard, is not even capable of suspending an association deal", he added.

Suspending the EU-Israel accord outright would require unanimity among member states, something diplomats see as virtually impossible due to divisions within the bloc.

The Gaza war began after Hamas's October 7th 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Palestinian militants also seized 251 hostages, with 49 still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 56,156 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations considers its figures reliable.