The Arab World News Agency quoted the Hebrew newspaper Jerusalem Post today (Friday) as saying that Israel summoned the ambassadors of Spain and Belgium in response to statements regarding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

The summons comes at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the statements of the Prime Ministers of the two countries, the Spanish Pedro Sanchez and the Belgian Alexander De Croo.

Ofir Gendelman, Netanyahu's spokesman, said that the Israeli Prime Minister "strongly condemns the statements of the Prime Ministers of Belgium and Spain, who did not hold (Hamas) fully responsible for committing crimes against humanity, slaughtering our citizens, and using Palestinians as human shields."

The Israeli journalist said that Foreign Minister Eli Cohen summoned the Spanish and Belgian ambassadors, based on Netanyahu’s directives, “to rebuke in light of the statements of the leaders of the two countries at the Rafah crossing today,” referring to the prime ministers of the two countries.

The newspaper reported that the Spanish Prime Minister said during a visit to the Rafah crossing in Egypt that the current ceasefire in Gaza “is insufficient and there is a need for a permanent ceasefire.”

Source: Asharq Al Awsat