Berlin: The launch of Israel’s new ground offensive in Gaza is a cause for deep concern, a German Foreign Office spokesperson has said in a statement, Reuters reports.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul spoke with his Israeli counterpart by phone the same day and is in close contact with other partners in the region, the statement said.
On the other hand, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for pressure to stop Israel’s “massacre in Gaza” and said Madrid plans a UN resolution requesting a world court ruling on aid access to the Palestinian territory, AFP reports.
Sanchez told an Arab League summit in Baghdad that Israel’s offensive in Gaza has led to “unacceptable numbers” of victims in the Palestinian territory, violating the “principle of humanity”.
World leaders should “intensify our pressure on Israel to halt the massacre in Gaza, particularly through the channels afforded to us by international law”, he said.
The Socialist prime minister said Spain will “submit to the United Nations General Assembly a proposal to ask the International Court of Justice to rule on Israel’s compliance with its international obligations on humanitarian aid access to Gaza”, under a complete aid blockade since March 2.
Sanchez said Spain would also back another draft UN resolution calling on Israel to “end the humanitarian blockade” and guarantee “full and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid” to enter Gaza.
“I wish once again to urge other countries to recognise the State of Palestine.”
