Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday renewed his call for Palestine to be granted full membership at the United Nations, speaking after a summit on recognition spearheaded by France.
French President Emmanuel Macron recognised a Palestinian state during the UN summit aimed at rallying support for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, held a day before the 2025 UN General Assembly in New York.
A long-time critic of Israel’s campaign in Gaza, Spain’s PM Sánchez urged urgent action on both recognition and peace efforts.
‘This conference marks a milestone, but it’s not the end of the road. It’s only the beginning,’ he said in New York.
‘The State of Palestine must be a full member of the United Nations,’ he said, stressing that ‘the process for the State of Palestine to join this organisation must be completed as soon as possible, on an equal footing with other states’.
He added: ‘Second, we must take immediate measures to stop the barbarism and make peace possible.’ ALSO READ: Spain to investigate possible war crimes in Gaza, supporting international criminal courts.
Socialist (PSOE) Sánchez, who leads Spain’s coalition government with the left-wing Sumar group, has been among the sharpest European critics of Israel’s military response in Gaza following the Hamas attacks of 7 October 2023. ALSO READ: Felipe VI denounces ‘unspeakable suffering’ and ‘total devastation’ of Gaza.
In May, Spain, together with Ireland and Norway, formally recognised a Palestinian state. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has since accused Sánchez of being ‘antisemitic’. ALSO READ: Netanyahu accuses Sánchez of ‘blatant genocidal threat’ against Israel.
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Si el reconocimiento del Estado palestino es urgente, más urgente es que exista un pueblo palestino que lo habite.
En nombre de la razón, del Derecho Internacional y de la dignidad humana: paremos esta matanza.
No habrá solución de dos Estados mientras uno sufra un genocidio. pic.twitter.com/wIrenCJmsn
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) September 22, 2025
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