Marina Pina

Updated Monday, January 29, 2024-11:10

  • Gira Albares calls in Lebanon for an "immediate ceasefire" to avoid a regional escalation

  • Defense General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz: "A misunderstanding on the border of Israel and Lebanon would lead to escalation"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, wanted to warn once again of the risk of the escalation of violence continuing in the Middle East. The head of Spanish diplomacy dedicates a good part of his efforts to trying to be an intermediary and this Monday, during the appearance at the Foreign Commission of the Congress of Deputies, he explained the reason: "If the violence escalates, it could

also have

devastating consequences.

for Spain"

Since the Hamas terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, Spain has maintained its position without changing its speech. This was reiterated once again by the minister in the commission: "Spain has demanded an

immediate and permanent ceasefire

and the release of all the hostages. We are not going to resign ourselves to continuing to see more women, men, innocent girls and boys killed." in Gaza, the suffering of Palestinian families. We cannot resign ourselves to continuing to see the suffering of the hostages' families.

The violence has to stop

," he insisted.

Although these statements have been repeated on numerous occasions by the Executive, the fact that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, spoke about it in front of the Rafah crossing, during his tour in the Middle East, caused a diplomatic crisis with Israel, which ended with the call to questions from the ambassador in Madrid, Rodica Radian-Gordon, who returned to Spain a few weeks ago. Then, the diplomat herself acknowledged to EL MUNDO that "Israel is in a very vulnerable situation and

we expected more understanding

and support from our friends and allies," which is why they called her for consultations.

With the return of the diplomat, Foreign Affairs has continued with its speech and the attempt to establish itself as a mediator. In fact, Albares toured Lebanon and Iraq last week. "Spain works for peace," Albares insisted. The minister has reiterated that the objective of achieving peace is to "materialize once and for all the two-state solution that includes the West Bank and Gaza under the Palestinian National Authority."

"Spain fully supports the work of the [International Court of Justice] and we ask for compliance with that ruling." Furthermore, the minister has announced that the Executive is not going to suspend aid to the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), although he has warned that they will follow the investigation

"very closely"

into the alleged collaboration of several of its workers. with Hamas for which up to 20 countries have

withdrawn

aid.

With all this, Albares reminded the members of the Commission of the Congress of Deputies that "if violence escalates, it could have devastating consequences for those countries, but also for the entire

Mediterranean region

, which also includes Spain."

It should be remembered that Spain participates in two international missions in the region with troops deployed. In Iraq, around

170 soldiers

participate in the mission to train local troops to fight Islamic terrorism. On January 20, a dozen missiles were launched against that military base, without causing any damage to personnel. The situation is equally tense in Lebanon, where there are more than

600 Spanish soldiers

deployed and whose force is commanded by

General Aroldo Lázaro.