Sumar is intensifying the pressure on the government to act in response to Israel’s military offensive in the Gaza Strip. Beyond the upcoming recognition of the Palestinian state, which Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, has described as “symbolic,” the minority partner of the coalition government is pushing for Spain to take action quickly. The aim is for the government to take a leading role in implementing measures that will help end a war that has already lasted seven months. Minister of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, has warned several Spanish companies with economic activities in Israel about the risk of unintentionally collaborating in the “genocide” in Palestine. He urges these companies to take steps to ensure that their businesses do not contribute to the human rights violations allegedly committed by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu in the occupied territories.
Although the Ministry of Social Rights does not provide specific details about the companies that received the letter, sources indicate that they are prominent companies operating in sectors such as energy, infrastructure, services, and logistics in Israel. According to a recent study by the consulting firm Informa D&B, at least 28 Spanish companies operate in Israel, with 32 subsidiaries in the area. Among them are Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and Naturgy. The Spanish multinational textile industry company, Inditex, also has a presence in the country. Bustinduy’s letter requests that the companies report on studies conducted to avoid human rights abuses related to their activities and business relationships in the region, as well as provide information on measures taken to prevent negative consequences resulting from economic activities in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
The letter also points out that the International Court of Justice ordered Israel on January 26 to take “immediate and effective” measures to prevent genocide in the Gaza Strip. This initiative is part of Sumar’s ongoing efforts on this issue. The Vice President, Yolanda Díaz, urged Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to recognize the Palestinian state at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, a demand supported by Culture Minister and spokesperson, Ernest Urtasun, but ignored by the Foreign Ministry. “The important thing is for it to happen as soon as possible, not just the recognition,” Bustinduy emphasized. He stressed the need for immediate action, indicating that the declaration of recognition Sumar hopes the government will make soon is not sufficient.
The Palestinian cause has been a longstanding issue for the left of the PSOE (Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party), and it was a point of contention during the negotiation of the government agreement between the two parties. In recent months, as the conflict has escalated, President Pedro Sánchez has openly supported recognizing the Palestinian state and is working towards a common position with other European leaders. Minister Sira Rego, who has Palestinian roots, highlighted that this symbolic and political decision aligns Spain with countries recognizing Palestine’s right to exist, exerting greater pressure on the international community. Sumar has introduced several initiatives in Congress over the past seven months, including calls for increased diplomatic efforts in the EU to end the conflict, a halt to arms trade with Israel, and the exclusion of Israel from the upcoming Olympics.
