Government strongly criticizes Israel's assault on Palestinian journalists in Gaza, emphasizing that it should face consequences for this action
In a strong statement, the Spanish Government has condemned an Israeli attack on Monday morning in Gaza that resulted in the death of six Palestinian journalists, including Anas al Sharif, a prominent reporter for Al Jazeera. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the attack against journalists as a "grave violation of International Humanitarian Law" and stated that almost 200 journalists have died in Gaza since the beginning of the conflict.
The Israeli Army had claimed that Anas al-Sharif was integrated into the structure of the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), a claim denied by the media. However, this allegation did little to mitigate the international outcry that followed the attack on the tent housing Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza City, which also claimed the lives of five Al Jazeera journalists and two freelancers.
Spain's condemnation aligns with international criticism of Israel's strike on Al Jazeera media workers. While specific statements from Spain directly condemning the Israeli strike are not found in the search results, Spain’s consistent position condemns attacks violating IHL, including those on journalists and civilians in Gaza.
The right to information is essential to guarantee freedom of expression and access to information for all citizens, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This sentiment was echoed by the UN Office for Human Rights, which also condemned the death of the six Palestinian journalists as a "grave violation of International Humanitarian Law".
The Israeli Army's actions have also extended to attacks on media infrastructure, such as the attack on a media store in Gaza, which resulted in the death of at least six reporters. Gazan authorities report 237 information professionals have died in Israeli attacks since then.
Spain has taken an active diplomatic role in addressing the Gaza conflict, hosting meetings to pressure Israel on humanitarian access and accountability. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has supported UN resolutions aimed at holding parties accountable for their international humanitarian obligations, including protecting civilians and media workers.
In a joint statement from July 2025, Spain along with other nations condemned attacks on civilians by any party, emphasized compliance with international law, and called for accountability for violations resulting in civilian casualties in Gaza.
It is worth noting that the Spanish Stock Exchange lost 0.55% and 14,800 points on the day of the attack, though it is unclear whether this was directly related to the condemnation of the Israeli attack.
As the conflict in Gaza continues, the importance of upholding International Humanitarian Law and protecting journalists and civilians becomes increasingly apparent. Spain's stance serves as a reminder of the international community's commitment to these principles.
- The Spanish Government, in line with international criticism, has denounced the Israeli attack on Al Jazeera media workers in Gaza as a violation of International Humanitarian Law, demonstrating the political stance against war-and-conflicts that endanger general-news reporters like Anas al-Sharif.
- Spain's diplomatic initiatives, such as hosting meetings to address the Gaza conflict, emphasize their commitment to crime-and-justice that protects civilians and journalists, as demonstrated by their consistent condemnation of attacks against media workers.
