"The EU today is a beacon, exemplifying the possibility of overcoming hostility and hatred to make way for coexistence"

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has taken part in the extraordinary meeting of the European Council, which took place by videoconference in view of the situation in the Middle East following the terrorist attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel. The meeting of the EU27 began with a minute's silence in memory of the innocent victims who have lost their lives in Israel and Palestine, and in the recent attacks on European soil.

Pedro Sánchez stressed the need to continue to support unity within the EU and to maintain communication and coordination among the EU27 to provide an aligned response to the current crisis in the Middle East. "Our strength comes from unity. And today, in the face of the massive humanitarian crisis we are witnessing, Europe's unity is the best contribution we can and must make for the benefit of the international community". He stressed the need to guarantee the arrival of humanitarian aid to Gaza, demanding the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, including the Spaniard Iván Illarramendi.

Furthermore, he recalled that Israel has the right to defend itself from these attacks, reiterating that any defence action must be framed within international law and international humanitarian law, a position that the Government of Spain has defended since the beginning of this crisis, and which is in line with the common position set out in the Joint Declaration adopted by the 27.

The acting president also stressed that the number one priority in the short term is to protect civilians and prevent the conflict from escalating. In the medium term, Pedro Sánchez spoke of the need to invest the necessary political capital to build the foundations for a lasting peace, recalling that this requires the solution of the two states, Israel and Palestine, so that they can coexist in peace and security. "Only through a two-state solution will it be possible to stop the violence and definitively resolve a conflict that causes so much suffering," he said.

He also recalled that the next meeting of the EU for the Mediterranean will take place in Barcelona on 27 November. "In this forum, Israel and Palestine sit on an equal footing, and Europeans and Arabs will both sit around the table," he said, stressing that "this is a unique opportunity that we have a duty to seize". For this reason, the president has proposed to the other leaders that the political profile of this meeting be raised to use this platform to relaunch the Euro-Arab dialogue. In this regard, he stressed during this extraordinary meeting that it is vital that the EU and the member states make every effort to avoid an escalation that could lead to the spread of the conflict in the region.

President Sánchez also announced that Spanish cooperation will contribute more than €4 million to Palestine between now and the end of the year. "In 2023, we will reach a total of €21.5 million between cooperation and humanitarian aid, which is 30% more than in 2022". He also stressed the need to maintain essential supplies in Gaza, especially water and electricity.

"The conflict will not resolve itself," the president said. "And peace and security in the region will not be possible if we do not offer a horizon of hope for the Palestinian people," he continued. He also urged other European leaders to act strategically on both the consequences of the conflict and on its causes. "Our continent can give a unique and valuable testimony, because Europe has overcome tremendous historical antagonisms to become what it is today," said Pedro Sánchez, asserting that the EU today exemplifies like no other the possibility of overcoming hostility and hatred to give way to coexistence and close union between peoples.

Non official translation