Spain to investigate 'human rights violations in Gaza'

The announcement marks another step by Spain, a virulent critic of the devastating Israeli offensive in the Palestinian territory, to lead international action over the conflict, sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel in 2023.

Spain's top prosecutor, Alvaro García Ortiz, has "issued a decree to create a working team tasked with investigating violations of international human rights law in Gaza", his office said in a statement.

The investigative team's mission will be to "gather evidence and make it available to the competent body, thereby fulfilling Spain's obligations regarding international cooperation and human rights", it said.

"Faced with the current situation in the Palestinian territories, all evidence, direct or indirect, that can be gathered in our country" on "crimes committed" in Gaza "must be included" for potential use in the ICC case, it added in the decree.

The statement mentioned a Spanish police report which recorded "acts that could constitute crimes against the international community" perpetrated by the Israeli army in Gaza.

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The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel's campaign in Gaza.

Spain has also joined a case before another world court, the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.

Both Hague-based courts have faced fierce criticism from Israel and its allies over the cases.

In February, the United States slapped sanctions on the ICC, saying it had "abused its power" with the Netanyahu arrest warrant.

Israel has challenged the 125-member state ICC's jurisdiction in the case.

Spanish-Israeli relations have soured over the conflict, with Israel withdrawing its ambassador to Madrid last year after Spain recognised a Palestinian state.

Last week, Spain recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv after Israel's foreign minister accused the government of antisemitism.

The row followed measures announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez which he said aimed to "stop the genocide in Gaza".