Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez delivered an address at the 34th Arab League Summit in Baghdad on Saturday, marking a defining moment in Madrid’s historical engagement with the Arab world and making an impassioned appeal for decisive action on Palestine.

“I congratulate Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al Sudani on Iraq’s economic progress,” Sánchez began, describing his presence at the summit as “a milestone in Spain’s long-standing and sincere friendship with the Arab League.”

Sánchez devoted the majority of his remarks to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank, describing the situation as intolerable and a violation of all legal and humanitarian international norms.

“What is happening in Gaza and the West Bank cannot be ignored—not in Europe, nor anywhere else in the world,” he said.

He cited stark figures: over 50,000 killed, 100,000 wounded, and two million displaced, calling the situation a humanitarian calamity that must be addressed with urgency.

Sánchez announced that Spain will host a ministerial meeting of the Madrid Group this week, bringing together countries aligned on the recognition of Palestine.

“This initiative will reflect our unwavering commitment to advancing peace,” he stated. “Spain stands as a steadfast ally for multilateralism—the only path to lasting peace in the Middle East.”

In closing, Sánchez reaffirmed Spain’s role as a partner of the Arab world, committed to justice, peace, and international cooperation.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the war in the Gaza Strip must end and the hostages and detainees must be released.

In his speech, Guterres called for the immediate entry of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, saying it was paramount to save lives.

He also expressed refusal of the forced displacement of the Gaza Strip's people, addressing similar views in regards to attempts to force Palestinians to leave their lands in the strip as well as the West Bank.

There is no solution for the Middle East without the two-state solution, he affirmed, saying the independent Palestinian state must be established with East Jerusalem as capital.

Moreover, the heads of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the African Union Commission called on Saturday for deeper Arab coordination and strategic partnerships amid escalating regional tensions.

Speaking at the 34th session of the Arab League Summit in Baghdad, OIC Secretary General Hussein Ibrahim Taha said the Palestinian issue remains central to both Arab and Islamic institutions. He emphasized the need to implement the decisions adopted at recent joint Arab-Islamic summits in 2023 and 2024 and reiterated support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Taha also stressed the importance of reinforcing strategic cooperation between the OIC and the Arab League, describing it as essential for addressing regional challenges and advancing security and stability.

In turn, African Union Commission Chair Mahmoud Ali Yossuf warned that Arab unity is critical in the face of mounting geopolitical complexity. He underscored Africa’s shared historical and cultural ties with the Arab world and called for revitalizing joint partnerships.

Yossuf also condemned the “genocidal acts” in Gaza, demanding immediate international action to halt the violence and restore the Palestinian people’s rights. (MORE)
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