Spain establishes Madrid Group to stop war in Gaza

Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares will meet on Sunday with the Madrid Group, a group of European and Arab countries promoting a two-state solution as a means of resolving the Middle East conflict and achieving a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Spanish newspaper El Mundo noted that through this meeting, Spain seeks to promote dialogue to "end the humanitarian catastrophe" in the Gaza Strip and move toward a political solution to the conflict with two states, Israel and Palestine, able to live side by side in peace and security.

This meeting comes amid escalating tensions with Israel following the horrific shooting this week of a group of European, American, and Arab diplomats, including a Spanish diplomat, during their visit to Jenin (West Bank).

The European Union has decided to review its Association Agreement with Israel, following a request supported by 17 of its 27 partners, including Spain.

Today's meeting, the second held by this group, brings together the European and Arab countries that spearheaded these initiatives, along with Spain: the countries of the Contact Group of the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the European countries that recently recognized Palestine (Spain, Norway, Slovenia, and Ireland).

This event, in an expanded format (Madrid+), will be joined by other countries that are very active in implementing the two-state solution.