Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, a vocal critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, has called for the State of Palestine to be admitted as a full member of the United Nations.
His statement comes a day after a summit led by France and Saudi Arabia, where France announced its official recognition of the Palestinian state.
“This conference marks a historic moment, but it is not the end of the road. It is only the beginning,” Sánchez said at a meeting ahead of the UN General Assembly in New York.
He stressed that the time has come for Palestine to become a full member of the global organization.
“The State of Palestine must be a full member of the United Nations. The process for Palestine to join this organization must be completed as soon as possible, under equal conditions with other states,” said the Spanish Prime Minister.
Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, officially recognized the State of Palestine in May of this year. Currently, Palestine is recognized by about 75% of the UN’s 193 member states, while within the organization it holds the status of a “permanent observer state,” which allows participation but not voting rights.
Meanwhile, despite the new recognitions, Israel continues its military offensive aimed at seizing the city of Gaza. Residents have reported to the media that Israeli tanks have penetrated the city center from both the north and south.
