Spain has signaled its readiness to deploy peacekeeping troops to Palestine when conditions allow, underlining Madrid’s growing diplomatic engagement in the Middle East.
Speaking in Madrid on Thursday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he would ask parliament to authorise the deployment of peacekeeping forces to Palestine once a viable framework for de-escalation is established. He linked the proposal to broader international efforts aimed at recognising both Israel and Palestine and advancing a lasting political settlement.
Sánchez told Spanish ambassadors that Spain should be prepared to contribute actively to stabilisation efforts, stressing that the situation in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, remains untenable. He argued that the creation of an independent, viable and secure Palestinian state remains the most effective path to stability and development in a region of major geopolitical importance to Europe.
The Spanish leader also reiterated Spain’s willingness to take part in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine should a peace agreement with Russia be reached, describing the current moment as critical for ending the war. He noted that Spain has previously deployed peacekeepers far from its borders and should not hesitate to do so in a European country, despite opposition from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine.
Spain formally recognised the State of Palestine in 2024 and has been among the most outspoken European critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on southern Israel.
At the end of last year, Sánchez urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to continue drawing international attention to what he described as the tragic situation facing the Palestinian people, reaffirming Spain’s commitment to a two-state solution and to renewed diplomatic efforts for peace.
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