Spain's PM Sanchez Announces Sanctions to Pressure Israel to End War in Gaza | DW News

Sep 8, 2025 | Spain's prime minister has accused Israel of "exterminating" defenseless people in Gaza. Pedro Sanchez has announced a series of measures aimed at pressuring Israel to end the war in Gaza. These include a new law formalizing an arms embargo on Israel and a ban on the transport of fuel and weapons for use by the Israeli army through Spanish ports and airspace.

Related article here, plus my comment.

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez Says Israel Is ‘Exterminating a Defenceless People’

THE GUARDIAN: Spain announces raft of measures designed to increase pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to end Gaza war

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has stepped up his scathing criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of “exterminating a defenceless people” by bombing hospitals and “killing innocent boys and girls with hunger”.

Speaking on Monday morning to announce a raft of measures designed to increase the pressure on Netanyahu to stop the military campaign, Sánchez said that while the Spanish government would always support Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself, it felt compelled to try to “stop a massacre”.

“Protecting your country and your society is one thing, but bombing hospitals and killing innocent boys and girls with hunger is another thing entirely,” he said.

“What Prime Minister Netanyahu presented in October 2023 as a military operation in response to the horrific terrorist attacks has ended up becoming a new wave of illegal occupations and an unjustifiable attack against the Palestinian civilian population – an attack that the UN special rapporteur and the majority of experts already describe as a genocide.”

The Spanish prime minister pointed to the numbers of dead, injured, displaced and malnourished. “That isn’t defending yourself; that’s not even attacking,” he said. “It’s exterminating a defenceless people. It’s breaking all the rules of humanitarian law.” » | Sam Jones in Madrid | Monday, September 8, 2025

Thank God for a European leader with sound principles and with the courage to speak out against what is happening to these beleaguered and besieged people. Kudos! It is unfathomable how the world can look on while innocent people are being starved to death and killed. And this from a people who should know better. — © Mark Alexander

Rudy Rochman: My Experience Fighting in Gaza

Jan 10, 2024 | An inside look at the war from within Gaza, with a holistic take on how we can break free from this reoccurring conflict.

You can support Rudy Rochman on Patreon here.

This video is a Kavana Films production.

McDonald's CEO Warns of Hit from Boycotts | BBC News

Jan 5, 2024 | McDonald's said it was seeing a "meaningful" hit to business, as customers in the Middle East and elsewhere boycott the firm for its perceived support of Israel. Chief executive Chris Kempczinski acknowledged the impact in a LinkedIn post, blaming the backlash on "misinformation". In the weeks following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 last year, McDonald's Israel said it had given away thousands of free meals to members of the Israeli military. The moves sparked grassroots calls for boycotts of the brand by those angered by Israel's military response in Gaza.

Arab and Muslim Leaders Blame West for Gaza Misery

Leaders warned of the "disastrous repercussions" of what they called Israel's "retaliatory aggression" | REUTERS
BBC: Hypocrisy, double standards and a failure to understand the region. These are the charges being levelled at the West, primarily the US, by leaders of 57 Arab and Muslim countries who convened at the weekend in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

How is it, foreign ministers said to me, that the West slams Russia for killing civilians in Ukraine, yet, in their words, it "gives a green light to Israel to do the same in Gaza"? In the luxurious surroundings of Riyadh's Ritz-Carlton hotel, amid giant floral bouquets and glittering chandeliers, and a world away from the shattered landscape of Gaza, princes, presidents and prime ministers met for the Joint Arab Islamic Extraordinary Summit.

Blame for the war and the destruction of lives and property was heaped unilaterally on Israel and its supporters. No-one criticised Hamas for its 7 October raid into southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw some 240 taken hostage, triggering the massive military retaliation. Israel, said the secretary general of the Arab League, had committed criminal acts.

"We warn of the disastrous repercussions of the retaliatory aggression by Israel against the Gaza Strip, which amounts to a war crime," said the final communique. "We warn of the real danger of the expansion of the war as a result of Israel's refusal to stop its aggression and of the inability of the [UN] Security Council to enforce international law to end this aggression." » | Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent, Saudi Arabia | Tuesday, November 14, 2023

What World Leaders Are Doing to Help End the War in Gaza | DW News

Nov 11, 2023 | Arab leaders were joined in Saudi Arabia by the presidents of Turkey and Iran for an emergency summit on Gaza. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said his people face a 'genocidal war' and want international protection. Arab nations are expected to issue a joint call for an end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

Germany's foreign minister is in Ramallah to meet with Palestinian leaders. Annalena Baerbock will also hold talks with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen in Tel Aviv later this evening. The trip comes on the heels of a meeting with Gulf State leaders, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Baerbock discussed efforts to free German hostages being held by Hamas, as well as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. This is her third visit to the region since the October 7 terror attacks.

Michael Lambert: Sadistic Bully Braverman Targets the Weakest

Nov 11, 2023 | As winter approaches, it is said that around 10,000 homeless people in this country are living on the streets and sleeping rough. I ask why it is, when we are so clever and so advanced, why it is that, despite being so we are unable to find a way of solving the problem of the homeless.

Similarly, it seems impossible to understand, looking at the Israeli - Palestinian conflict, how resolution of conflict cannot be solved other than with military force.

It seems so wrong that so many innocent children should have to suffer the consequences of war.

Earlier this week, King Charles, when opening Parliament, seemed to treat all that he was reading with contempt. He made it very clear that he has no time for the Sunak government or their programme.

Finally, both Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman appear to be making important decisions based, not upon the nation's interests but upon their personal political futures. I believe that Braverman's description of homelessness as a lifestyle choice was crass, insensitive and stupid and that in saying so, she may well have ruined any chances of becoming Tory leader.

Israel-Gaza: Palestinian Prime Minister Calls for Immediate Ceasefire - BBC News

Oct 25, 2023 | Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, who is based in the occupied West Bank, has called for an immediate ceasfire. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, he called for the "immediate opening of a safe passage for international aid". Also speaking on the programme, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy said: "Israel is united now around a single goal and that goal is total victory against Hamas, in response to the October 7 massacre."

Jordan’s King Condemns Gaza War Crimes at Cairo Peace Summit | Al Jazeera Newsfeed

Oct 21, 2023 | World leaders at the Cairo Peace Summit are trying to ‘de-escalate’ the Israel-Gaza war. Jordan’s King Abdullah used his speech to condemn the war crimes of collective punishment and the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Times Radio: Lebanon Cannot Stop Hezbollah Mobilising If Israel Do Not De-escalate | Lebanese Ambassador

Oct 19, 2023 | "Hezbollah is part of the Lebanese society. Of course, they have their modus operandi. But until now, they've been exerting self-restraint." The Lebanese ambassador to the UK will not say if Lebanon would stop Hezbollah from becoming involved in the Israel-Gaza Conflict.