The Spanish and Egyptian foreign ministers called on the International, community Thursday to rally for a ceasefire in Gaza “as a first step” to peace between “a Palestinian state side by side” with Israel.¹ In a joint conference in Cairo Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Spanish counterpart José Manual Albares stated this.² Albares also said in a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi “a frame work in place to allow Palestine to live in peace.”³ There had to be “a ceasefire and an end to the humanitarian catastrophe that an innocent civilian population is suffering,” Albares said.⁴ He also called on the international community to “set it sights” on the “innocent Palestinians who have lost their lives” and those “threatened by famine.”⁵

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of famine in the Gaza Strip, in particular in the cut-off north of the territory.⁶ According to Egypt’s special presidential spokesman, al-Sisi and Albares discussed “the necessity of supporting” the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which coordinates aid in Gaza.⁷ The agency faces a funding crisis after multiple donor nations, including the United States, suspended funding following Israeli allegations that about a dozen of UNRWA’s 13,000 Gaza employees were involved in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.⁸ Spain this month announced an additional 20 million Euros in funding for UNRWA.⁹ The surprise Hamas attack resulted in about 1,200 deaths, most of them civilians, according to Israeli figures.¹⁰ Spain, along with Ireland and Belgium has been one of the European countries most critical of Israel’s offensive and repeatedly pushed for the recognition of a Palestinian state.¹¹

A ceasefire in Gaza is much more needed right now than a Palestinian state existing side by side with Israel. An independent Palestinian State is becoming ever more unlikely as the Zionist regime pursues the construction of settlements in the West Bank. Both Madrid and Cairo are right to call for an immediate cease fire to the war. How ever it will take an end to military aid such as weapons, as well as economic assistance to Tel Aviv for pressure to be exerted on the Israelis to allow for the withdrawal of those settlements from the West Bank. Albares is right to point out the significant loss of life in Gaza, and the need for a truce. However, without the diplomatic pressure being put on the right-wing coalition of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, any denunciation of the atrocities being committed lack teeth.    

Sanctions are the only way to break the dead lock and get food to Gaza to end the famine. Egypt is not entirely innocent in this regard; they have blocked of the Rafah border to prevent the Palestinians from crossing into the Sinai (Egyptian territory) although this is to prevent them from settling permanently there. Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi has had some tough choices to make (when he is not running his country into the ground with some extravagant mega project), however he also has a balancing act to keep. The United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency (UNRWA) has its work cut out for it and should be calling for sanctions on Israel. Spain is deeply involved with UNRWA but other than throw money at it, it doesn’t want to anything like sanction Israel as this would upset the Jews/Zionists and their supporters. The same goes for the rest of the European Union (EU).

Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry and his Spanish counterpart Albares said during a joint press conference that Egypt and Spain both agree on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.¹² “We value the role that Spain plays within the framework of the European Union […] We must work together to halt military actions in armed conflicts,” said Shoukry.¹³ Shoukry continued that Israel deliberately hinders the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip, stressing that Egypt welcomes the proposed ideas to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, whether by land, sae or air.¹⁴ For his part, Albares state that his country will continue to support the UNRWA, and will remain committed to assisting the 6 million Palestinian refugees.¹⁵ The Spanish foreign minister stated that Egypt plays a prominent role in the regional dynamics, particularly concerning Gaza.¹⁶ Abares emphasized Egypt’s significance as a friend and crucial partner of Spain in the Mediterranean region, as well as its pivotal role in Africa.¹⁷

The only way aid can be delivered into Gaza is to have sanctions imposed upon Israel, for a truce to be called for on both sides. Women and children are starving and the only way to ensure food aid to get into Gaza is impose sanctions on the Israelis. An end to the weapons delivery of the United States and the European Union to Israel should be the way out. But this is becoming less likely as the US under President Joe Biden and the US’ allies are not budging. As regards to the efforts of Egypt or even Spain it makes no difference what aid deliver by land, sae or air. The Spanish could have helped by asking that the EU impose a trade embargo or sanctions on the Zionist regime but to no avail. This could have paved the way for negotiations with Hamas to release the hostages.

Instead, it’s business as usual as regards the situation, with food aid being flown in by air, with out concern for the damage. Egypt for its part along with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, (the only other neighbouring country in the region with a treaty with Israel) remain hesitant to press for sanctions as they could face having their own economic aid cut off. It remains to be seen if Cairo and its allies can use the little regional influence they have to reason for a truce to the war.

Sources      

AI Alarabiya7h

Foreign ministers of Spain, Egypt call for Palestinian state, more aid to Gaza

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manual Albares called on the international community Thursday to rally for a ceasefire in Gaza “as a first step” to peace .. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11}

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Egypt, Spain FMs call for urgent ceasefire in Gaza

Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno said during a joint press conference … ^{12 13 14 15 16 17}

Summary

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met with his Spanish counterpart José Manuel Albares Bueno last week to discuss ways to send food aid to Gaza among other things. However, with out a cease fire being called for any effort made to deliver food aid to the victims to end the famine is pointless. Egypt itself has imposed a heavy blockade on Gaza’s Rafah crossing as has the Israelis on their side. The Strip of coastal land is completely hemmed in. The delivery of food aid will not work while the people of Gaza remain cut of off from the rest of the world. Sanctions need to be imposed on Israel in exchange for a ceasefire.