Facing a lack of consensus in Brussels due to Hungary’s veto, Spain has decided to act unilaterally against violent Israeli settlers who attack Palestinians in the West Bank. “We have begun procedures to impose sanctions on an initial group of 12 violent settlers in the West Bank,” said Jose Manuel Albares this Monday during his address to the Congress of Deputies. “We know that silence and inaction go against the victims.”
This is the first time the minister specifies the exact number affected by the government’s planned measure. Spain joins countries like the United States and the United Kingdom in preparing penalties for these radicals. Attacks by residents of illegal settlements against Palestinian neighbors have long been common in the occupied territories: 243 Palestinians killed in 2023 before October 7, including 43 children. Since that day, the toll has risen sharply, with 545 Palestinians murdered by Israeli forces or settlers, including 139 children. The Israeli government has decided to arm these settlers and, at times, turns a blind eye to the assaults.
On the Gaza war, Albares announced a contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) that is well above the previously stated 3.5 million. He highlighted the government’s role in preventing the European Union from suspending that aid, which is vital to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.
Albares urged the members of the Mixed Commission, gathered this Monday, to join Spain’s actions to seek peace in the Middle East, from calling for a ceasefire to holding a subsequent peace conference that would lead to a Palestinian state. “What I ask here is that you join that aspiration and help us build a lasting peace,” he urged.
In Gaza, more than 30,000 people have died, mostly women and children, in Israeli attacks that followed Hamas’s incursion into the territory, which left 1,200 dead. “Spain is clear and firm in condemning the numerous civilian deaths in Gaza, around 30,000, with a high share of women and children,” added the Spanish foreign minister. “Only a viable and realistic Palestinian state, including the West Bank and Gaza under a single Palestinian authority connected by a corridor with sea access and a capital in East Jerusalem, can guarantee Israel’s security and peace in the region.”
Four proposals for a pact
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation asked the parliamentary groups to consider four concrete proposals in foreign policy, described as a matter of national interest.
First, he called for unity to ensure that Catalan, Galician, and Basque become official EU languages. Spain has proposed amending Regulation 1/58, which governs the linguistic regime of the 27 member states. “Official status does not require treaty modification,” he said, noting that Spain would cover the costs. “We are working with Belgium, which currently chairs the EU Council, and is committed to multilingualism.”
Second, regarding the agreement Spain is negotiating to regulate the status of Gibraltar after the UK’s exit from the EU, he stated, “Our objective is to create a zone of shared prosperity.” He affirmed Spain’s legal position and invited support for the government’s proposal, adding that the aim is to remove the border fence with the new agreement and that Spain is ready to sign.
Third, he presented a proposal to reinforce Ukraine’s support in defending peace, freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
The fourth proposal urges parliamentary groups to back the Spanish government’s efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and help build a lasting peace. It also calls for continued pressure for the EU Commission to provide UNRWA with essential funds that sustain thousands of families in Gaza. “I ask you to join the call for a ceasefire,” he said.
Another section highlights a balance sheet from Spain’s presidency of the EU Council. Albares stressed three milestones: relaunching Europe’s relations with other regions, especially Latin America and the Caribbean; progress on long-stalled agreements such as the Migration and Asylum Pact; and the completion of 71 key agreements shaping Europe’s future. He emphasized Spain’s role in protecting and strengthening the European social model, from advancing the Care Strategy to creating a European Disability Card benefiting 88 million Europeans, including 4 million Spaniards.
The opening of Albares’s address to deputies and senators underscored Spain and the EU’s stance toward Ukraine, insisting on continued financial, humanitarian, military, and political support. He noted that Spain’s presidency saw landmark moves such as opening negotiations for Ukraine and Moldova’s accession and granting Georgia candidate status. The decision to bring Romania and Bulgaria into the Schengen Area represented a milestone at the end of the presidency. He also highlighted reforms in the European electricity market and the Net Zero Industry dossier, aimed at promoting clean technology in Europe while ensuring competitiveness and ecological transition.
Regarding risks facing the EU, the minister highlighted the Critical Raw Materials Act to guarantee access to essential resources for member industries. He also stressed the strengthening of relations with the Southern Neighborhood, with the Union for the Mediterranean playing a key role in those efforts.