In the latest escalation of the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine, the world has witnessed a terrible tragedy. The full extent of the humanitarian crisis is still unfolding, but we know that thousands of innocent Palestinian civilians, including many children, have lost their lives due to Israeli military operations in Gaza.
The Spanish government has decided to become the first European Union country to join the International Court of Justice in the Hague case against Israel for alleged violations of the Genocide Convention. Other countries such as Nicaragua, Colombia, Mexico, Libya and Chile previously joined South Africa's request, while Ireland, Norway and Belgium are considering joining this lawsuit.
The Spanish government's decision comes just one week after the country officially recognized Palestine as a state, a joint move with Norway and Ireland that sparked a diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Spain thanked the Spanish government for its continued work in accordance with its principles and values. He praised Spain's joining the lawsuit filed before the International Court of Justice. Even the armed Palestinian Hamas movement welcomed the Spanish decision.
