Sanchez demands immediate suspension of partnership agreement with Israel from the European Union

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has issued an urgent and direct appeal to European Union institutions, demanding the immediate suspension of the partnership agreement with Israel. This escalatory stance was conveyed in an official post on the 'X' platform, where Sanchez affirmed that the continuation of Israeli violations requires a firm European response that goes beyond mere verbal condemnation.

The new Spanish position is based on recent field developments, specifically the Israeli military aggression against the 'Global Freedom Flotilla'. This flotilla, carrying vital humanitarian aid and seeking to break the siege on the Gaza Strip, was attacked in international waters, which Madrid considered a blatant violation of established international norms and conventions.

Sanchez emphasized in his statements that Israel has crossed all red lines by attacking a civilian flotilla in waters not under its sovereignty. He clarified that the Spanish government is making strenuous efforts to protect its citizens detained by the occupation authorities, while also noting that these diplomatic moves are no longer sufficient to deter repeated Israeli transgressions.

The targeted partnership agreement for suspension is the primary legal framework that has regulated economic and political relations between Brussels and Tel Aviv for decades. This agreement was signed in November 1995, before coming into actual effect in early June 2000, charting the course for joint cooperation between the two parties.

At its core, the agreement aims to establish a gradual free trade area and strengthen ties in technology, science, and economics. However, Article Two of the agreement stands out as a fundamental condition, explicitly stating that respect for human rights and democratic principles is the cornerstone upon which this partnership is built, which Spain now views as violated.

On the ground, 'Mission Spring 2026' had set sail from the Italian island of Sicily earlier this week, laden with hopes of breaking the humanitarian blockade. The flotilla includes approximately 345 participants representing 39 countries worldwide, in a broad international solidarity demonstration aimed at highlighting the suffering of the besieged residents of the Gaza Strip.

Sources from within the flotilla reported that Israeli army forces carried out an illegal attack on Wednesday evening in international waters off the Greek island of Crete. The attack directly targeted civilian boats, leading to the detention of 21 boats by the Israeli navy, a move described by human rights organizations as international piracy.

Despite the violent attack, 17 boats managed to reach Greek territorial waters seeking protection, while 14 other boats are still trying to make their way across the open sea. This initiative is a second version of the Freedom Flotilla attempts, following a previous experience in 2025 that also ended with an Israeli assault and the arrest of hundreds of activists.

The Gaza Strip has been living under a suffocating and continuous Israeli blockade since 2007, which has caused a complete paralysis of various basic aspects of life. The recent genocidal war has led to massive destruction of infrastructure, leaving more than one and a half million Palestinians homeless or without shelter to protect them from harsh living conditions.

Medical reports indicate that the sector is facing an unprecedented humanitarian and health crisis, with the occupation deliberately targeting hospitals and healthcare centers. The occupation authorities also impose strict restrictions preventing the entry of fuel and essential medical supplies, threatening the lives of thousands of injured and sick people amidst a severe shortage of medicines.

The Spanish demand places the European Union before a real test of its stated principles regarding human rights and international law. While Madrid calls for tangible punitive measures, political circles await the position of the other member states of the Union, and the extent of their response to the call for imposing real economic and political pressure on the Netanyahu government to stop its aggression.

Israel has once again violated international law by attacking a civilian flotilla in waters not belonging to it, and the European Union must now suspend the partnership agreement and demand that Netanyahu respect the law of the sea.