In a powerful diplomatic push, Spain has brought together European and Arab nations in Madrid to urgently demand an end to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives and sparked fears of famine due to a severe blockade on humanitarian aid.
The meeting, held on Sunday, marks the fifth official gathering of the “Madrid Group”—a coalition of nations and international organizations calling for peace and the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called the summit “a vital moment” to stop what he described as a war that “no longer has any goal” and to ensure unhindered humanitarian access to Gaza.
“This is a humanitarian catastrophe,” Albares told Al Jazeera ahead of the meeting. “We aim to stop the war and break the blockade on aid deliveries.” He also emphasized that the international community should start considering sanctions against Israel if the violence does not stop.
The call for sanctions follows growing criticism from some of Israel’s closest allies in the European Union. Many of these nations have expressed outrage over Israel’s decision to tighten its siege on Gaza, cutting off essential supplies like food, medicine, and fuel for nearly three months.
Israel’s limited easing of the blockade—allowing about 100 aid trucks to enter Gaza since Wednesday—has been widely criticized by aid organizations and the United Nations as grossly inadequate. According to humanitarian groups, at least 500 to 600 trucks are needed each day to address the dire needs of the population.
UN officials have slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to allow “limited aid” as nothing more than a “smokescreen” that fails to ease the suffering of Gaza’s civilians. The Gaza Health Ministry reports nearly 54,000 deaths so far, with a heartbreaking majority being women and children.
The Madrid meeting also serves as a precursor to a high-level United Nations conference on the two-state solution, scheduled for June 17 in New York. Co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, that event aims to rally global support for Palestinian statehood. Albares hopes Sunday’s meeting will build momentum toward this goal, urging the international community to act now.
In addition to Spain, the meeting included representatives from 20 countries, as well as major international bodies like the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Many of these participants—such as Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey—have already recognized Palestine and are pushing for formal diplomatic steps toward a two-state resolution.
Germany’s Deputy Foreign Minister Florian Hahn also issued a strong statement, calling the humanitarian situation in Gaza “unbearable” and stressing the urgent need for a ceasefire and diplomatic negotiations.
Al Jazeera correspondent Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Madrid, said the gathering is “crucial,” as it may lay the groundwork for potential peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians and open doors for recognition of a Palestinian state.
As international pressure continues to mount, all eyes are now on Israel and its allies to see whether the calls for peace and humanitarian relief will finally be answered—or fall on deaf ears.
