Overview

• Foreign minister José Manuel Albares is presenting an action plan at the informal EU Foreign Affairs Council to stop the Gaza famine, expand EU sanctions on those undermining a two-state solution, block arms sales to Israel within the bloc, and secure financing for the Palestinian Authority.
• Albares urged immediate action to end the war in Gaza, calling the crisis a situation of destruction, death and hunger, and described the famine as induced by Israel and lethal for thousands including children.
• EU ministers said they were horrified by last week’s formal famine declaration by the IPC/CIF and pressed Israel to meet its humanitarian obligations.
• Spain, alongside counterparts from Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and Slovenia, condemned Israel’s latest offensive and the announced plan for a permanent presence in Gaza City, warning that intensified operations threaten hostages and will cause intolerable civilian deaths.
• Ministers voiced deep concern over Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank, citing the planned enlargement of Maale Adumim and reaffirming that such construction is illegal under international law.