Pedro Sánchez Did Not Announce Recognition of the Palestinian State, but Pledged Action

Misbar investigated the circulating claim and found it to be misleading. 

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared that his new government would commit to working “in Europe and Spain for the recognition of the Palestinian state.” In other words, Sanchez did not explicitly state that his government had recognized Palestine, but pledged to strive for it in the future.

In his speech, Pedro Sanchez urged the international community to recognize the Palestinian state, stating that, “it is a long-sought solution by the Palestinian people.”

Spanish Call for Recognition of a Palestinian State

The Spanish Prime Minister also demanded an immediate ceasefire and strict adherence to humanitarian law, while calling for an end to the indiscriminate killing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Additionally, he urged the Israeli government to allow international aid to reach the besieged people in Gaza city.

Irene Montero, the Spanish Minister of Equality, responded to Sanchez's speech by suggesting that Spain should sever its diplomatic relations with Israel and impose sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Previously, Montero had condemned Israel's actions towards the Palestinian people, asserting that “it is our responsibility to stop Netanyahu's actions and not be complicit in the planned genocide committed by Israel."

It is worth noting that in the majority vote of 2014, the Spanish Parliament adopted a “non-binding” resolution supporting the recognition of the Palestinian state in coordination with the European Union.

The Ongoing War on the Gaza Strip

The circulation of this claim coincides with the Israeli-led war on Gaza, which has persisted for 45 days, resulting in over 13,000 casualties to date, predominantly among women and children.

Previously, the director of the Ministry of Health in Gaza announced the challenges in retrieving victims of Israeli airstrikes and accurately documenting their numbers. The aggression has caused extensive destruction to infrastructure, leading to the displacement of the majority of the population. According to UNRWA, since October 7, around 1.7 million people have been displaced, with the recent escalation of Israeli occupation targeting hospitals, medical personnel, first aid responders, and civil defense crews.

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