ISTANBUL: Palestine has welcomed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's call to cease weapons exports to Israel amid its attacks in Gaza and Lebanon, Anadolu Agency (AA) reports.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry noted that Sanchez’s call "aligns with international law and resolutions supporting the two-state solution and human rights principles."
The Spanish premier urged the international community on Friday (Oct 11) to stop arms exports to Israel, highlighting that Spain had already halted arms sales to Israel in October 2023.
The ministry asserted that "countries supplying arms and military equipment to Israel are responsible for encouraging its continued crimes and violations against the Palestinian people."
It urged the signatories of the Arms Trade Treaty "to act decisively to prevent Israel from using arms and military equipment to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, human rights, and against Palestinian civilians."
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the US accounted for 70.2% of Israel's conventional arms needs between 2011 and 2020, followed by Germany at 23.9% and Italy at 5.9%.
In April, the US Congress approved US$17bil in aid to Israel as part of a US$95bil foreign military assistance package. – Bernama-Anadolu
