Spain had signalled support for Emmanuel Macron’s proposal of an international coalition under a UN mandate to stabilise Gaza
Spain had signalled support for Emmanuel Macron’s proposal of an international coalition under a UN mandate to stabilise Gaza
Spain on Wednesday voiced support for French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to create an international coalition under a United Nations mandate to stabilise Gaza, calling it “one of the tools” that could help bring peace to the region.
Macron, speaking on Monday, said the proposed UN mission would be tasked with securing the Gaza Strip, protecting civilians, and supporting an as-yet-unspecified Palestinian governance structure. He urged the UN Security Council to begin work on establishing the mission, adding that France would engage its partners to advance the plan.
“The proposal … is one of the tools that can help achieve peace and security in Gaza and the Middle East, as is the work of UNRWA as the UN agency for aid to the Palestinian people,” Spain’s Foreign Ministry said in a written response.
Madrid stressed that any such force should serve as a step towards achieving a two-state solution — establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel in territories Israel captured in the 1967 war.
Spain has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza and last year joined a small group of EU countries in recognising a Palestinian state — a group now expanded to include France. Macron’s proposal follows his own recognition of Palestinian statehood last month, which spurred similar announcements from Britain, Canada, and Australia, set to formalise their recognitions next month.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry said a temporary UN mission could help pave the way for a transfer of power to a Palestinian state administration, ultimately contributing to “peace and security for all.”
The push for international intervention comes as Israel’s security cabinet last week approved a plan to take control of Gaza City, intensifying its operations in the war-ravaged territory — a move that has drawn strong domestic and international criticism.
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