- Spain and Ireland firmly rejected Israeli calls to accept Palestinian refugees from the Gaza Strip, reaffirming their support for the two-state solution.
- Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares emphasized that Gaza should be part of the future Palestinian state, and that focus should be on humanitarian aid and rebuilding the Strip, not on reducing its population.
- Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs echoed Spain's stance, dismissing calls to accept Palestinian refugees and stating that the priority should be on aid and allowing displaced people to return.
- Spain, Ireland and Norway recognized Palestinian statehood in May 2024, aiming to pressure Israel into accepting a two-state solution and support a ceasefire in Gaza.
- The positions of Spain and Ireland reflect increasing international dissatisfaction with Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its opposition to a two-state solution.
Spain and Ireland have firmly rejected Israeli calls to accept Palestinian refugees forcibly displaced from the Gaza Strip, reaffirming that the two-state solution is the most ideal solution.
"No one should even be debating about where Palestinian Gazans should go, because that debate is closed. The land of Palestinian Gazans is Gaza," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told the state-owned radio station RNE on Thursday, Feb. 6. "Gaza should be part of the future Palestinian state, just as Spain and the majority of the planet's nations recognize.
Albares reiterated that instead of reducing Gaza's population, the focus should be on humanitarian aid and rebuilding the Strip. "What we are doing is introducing our humanitarian aid as much as possible to help the people after more than 45,000 innocent people fell victim to indiscriminate bombings," he continued.
The Spanish official likewise condemned the rising settler violence in the West Bank as "completely unacceptable." According to him, the world must help rebuild Gaza as a "first step" to establishing the State of Palestine – which includes the Strip and the West Bank.
Meanwhile, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) echoed Albares' sentiment, dismissing calls for Dublin to accept Palestinian refugees as "unhelpful and a source of distraction." The department said in a statement that the priority should be a "massive scale-up of aid into Gaza, return of basic services, and a clear framework under which those displaced can return."
Albares' remarks followed those by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, who suggested on Thursday that nations who have issued "accusations and false claims" against the Jewish nation's actions against Palestinians must accept displaced refugees from the Strip.
"Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway and others, which have leveled accusations and false claims against Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories," Katz remarked. Albares responded that Spain has taken in some Palestinians, such as children and those critically ill.
Madrid and Dublin's bold move: Recognizing Palestinian statehood
The comments by Albares and the DFA stem from Madrid and Dublin recognizing Palestinian statehood, alongside Norway, in May 2024. At the time, the move sought to pressure Tel Aviv into accepting a two-state solution and to support a ceasefire in Gaza. The European Union, which Spain and Ireland are members of, also backs a two-state solution – which the Spanish foreign minister reiterated.
However, it drew sharp criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called the move a "reward for terrorism." Katz, who was serving as foreign minister at the time, warned of "severe consequences" and recalled Israel's ambassadors to Madrid, Dublin and Oslo. (Related: Outraged Israel recalls ambassadors from Spain, Norway, Ireland over recognition of Palestinian state.)
The conflict in Gaza has deepened divisions within the international community. Meanwhile, Israeli officials such as Katz have floated plans to facilitate the "voluntary departure" of Gazans, drawing comparisons to past forced displacements of Palestinians.
Spain and Ireland's rejection of proposals to take in displaced Gazans, alongside their recognition of Palestinian statehood, reflects their broader commitment to Palestinian self-determination. The moves also signal growing international impatience with Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories and its rejection of a two-state solution.
For now, the two countries remain steadfast in their opposition to Israeli proposals to displace Gazans. This position, shared by much of the international community, underscores the urgency of finding a just and lasting resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Watch this clip of a Palestinian refugee reiterating his preference to die in Gaza than leave his homeland.
This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.
More related stories:
BRICS countries call on UN to recognize Palestine as a state.
Spain to officially recognize Palestinian state, calls on Western powers to do same.
Ireland joins South Africa in genocide case against Israel at International Court of Justice.
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1 month ago • edited
Good for them, Mongrelizing established centuries old established ethnicities always results in the evisceration of those cultural identities permanently, like mixing oil and water!!!