In a bold statement, Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, called for a global halt on arms sales to Israel following an attack on U.N. peacekeeping troops in Lebanon. The attack, carried out by Israeli forces on a U.N. observation post in southern Lebanon, left two peacekeepers injured. This incident marked the third consecutive day of Israeli fire at U.N. positions as part of their conflict with Hezbollah.
Fortunately, none of the Spanish soldiers stationed in Lebanon were harmed during the attack. With Spain contributing 650 peacekeepers to the mission, the Spanish Defense Ministry confirmed their safety under the leadership of a Spanish general.
After meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Sanchez strongly condemned the Israeli attacks and revealed that Spain had ceased weapon exports to Israel in October 2023. Urging other nations to follow suit, Sanchez emphasized the need to prevent further escalation in the region.