by Francis Tuschek, Staff Writer
Spain has condemned the Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and called for a ceasefire in Gaza following reports of over 350 fatalities.
On Monday, Israel targeted Beirut and southern Lebanon, claiming it aimed to hit a senior Hezbollah commander and the group’s weapon storage sites. In retaliation, Hezbollah launched missiles at northern Israel.
The Spanish government expressed its profound shock and condemnation of the Israeli attacks in southern and eastern Lebanon, which resulted in numerous casualties, describing these actions as a response to Hezbollah’s assaults on Israel over the weekend. The Foreign Ministry in Madrid stressed that “the cycle of violence must end.”
Spain urged all parties involved to “respect civilian lives and adhere to the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law,” while also calling for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. The ministry emphasized the need to “avoid war at all costs” and stated that an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza is essential to alleviate regional tensions.
Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah escalated last week, culminating in a series of explosions that killed at least 37 people and injured around 3,000, including children. Following the death of senior Hezbollah commander Ibrahim Aqil from Israeli airstrikes, Hezbollah retaliated with missile attacks on northern Israel.
The Lebanese Health Ministry reported that Monday’s strikes resulted in over 350 deaths and more than 1,200 injuries, including 42 women and 24 children. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have targeted “more than 1,300” Hezbollah sites, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing the operation as “destroying what Hezbollah built over 20 years.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Lebanese civilians to evacuate to avoid being used as “human shields” by Hezbollah, assuring them that they could return home safely after the operation concludes.
Since last October, Israel and Hezbollah had been engaged in sporadic exchanges of missile fire and airstrikes, while the IDF concentrated its main efforts on combating Hamas in Gaza. The October 7 attacks by Hamas resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths, while over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in subsequent Israeli military actions.