Mourners react during the funeral of Palestinians who, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, were killed in an Israeli airstrike earlier in the day, in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, June 26, 2025. RAMADAN ABED / REUTERS
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Thursday, June 26 became the most prominent European leader to describe the situation in Gaza as a "genocide," as rescuers in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory said Israeli forces killed 65 people. After more than 20 months of devastating conflict, rights groups say Gaza's population of more than two million face famine-like conditions.
Israel began allowing supplies to trickle in at the end of May following a blockade of more than two months but distribution has been marred by chaotic scenes and near-daily reports of Israeli forces firing on those waiting to collect rations. Israel meanwhile is pressing its bombardment of the territory, in a military offensive it says is aimed at defeating militant group Hamas, whose October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the war.
Sanchez said Gaza was in a "catastrophic situation of genocide" and urged the European Union to immediately suspend its cooperation deal with Israel. The comments represent the strongest condemnation to date by the Spanish premier, an outspoken critic of Israel's offensive who is one of the first European leaders, and the most senior, to use the term "genocide" to describe the situation in Gaza. Speaking ahead of an EU summit in Brussels, Sanchez mentioned an EU report which found "indications" Israel was breaching its human rights obligations under the cooperation deal, which forms the basis for trade ties.
Israel reacted furiously to Sanchez's comments. Its embassy in Madrid accused him of "demonizing" Israel, saying Spain was "on the wrong side of history." The Spanish government called the statement "unacceptable" and summoned the embassy's chargé d'affaires.
The director of medical supplies in Gaza's civil defense agency, Mohammad Al-Mughair, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that 65 people had been killed by Israeli forces in the territory on Thursday. The Israeli military said its troops "fired warning shots" in order to prevent "suspects from approaching them" near the Netzarim corridor in central Gaza, where Palestinians gather each night for rations.
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Gaza's health ministry says nearly 550 people have been killed near aid centers while seeking scarce supplies since late May. The United Nations has condemned the "weaponization of food" in Gaza, and slammed a US- and Israeli-backed foundation that has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations in the territory.
The privately run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was brought into the territory in late May, but its operations have been marred by chaotic scenes, deaths and neutrality concerns. The GHF denies deadly incidents have occurred in the immediate vicinity of its aid points. The US State Department said Thursday it had approved its first direct funding – $30 million – for the GHF and urged other countries to follow suit.
Israeli restrictions on media in Gaza and difficulties in accessing some areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by rescuers and authorities in the territory. The World Health Organization said it had delivered its first medical shipment into Gaza since March 2, adding that the nine truckloads were "a drop in the ocean."
After claiming victory in a 12-day war against Iran that ended with a ceasefire on June 24, Israel said it would refocus on its offensive in Gaza, where Palestinian militants still hold Israeli hostages. US President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday: "I think great progress is being made on Gaza" to end the war, and forecast "very good news."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing calls from opposition politicians, relatives of hostages held in Gaza and even members of his ruling coalition to end the fighting. Key mediator Qatar said this week it would launch a new push for a ceasefire. Israel said efforts to return Israeli hostages in Gaza were ongoing "on the battlefield and via negotiations."
russellomega on June 27th, 2025 at 15:43 UTC »
The Jewish population of Spain would have something to say if not for the Spanish Inquisition.
uliwut on June 27th, 2025 at 12:44 UTC »
How is that news? Feels like this was his first response to 7/10
Patient_Gamemer on June 27th, 2025 at 12:37 UTC »
I'm not disagreeing or anything, but before people start praising him I'd like to call to attention the fact that these weeks a lot of information are popping about corruption in the inner circles of his party, his wife is involved and it's possible he even fraud-ed his way to become Secretary General of the party, as well as he's trying to override the judicial sentence to jail the Catalonian independentist politicians who called a referendum without complying with the law, independentist politicians he vowed to fight against years ago, before their vote was necessary for him to become President. Even his colleagues within his own party are disagreeing with him.
You know, because it's a neat moment to divert attention to other countries' issues atm.
Edit: I withheld the names of People and parties because I don't want this to be viewed as a "right wing= good, left wing = bad" argument, but like, politicians lie and steal and these people have been in power for quite a while to do both, same as their right wing predecessors.