• Spain hosted a summit with 20 countries to discuss halting the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
• Calls for sanctions on Israel are gaining traction among its historical allies due to the humanitarian crisis.
• The meeting aimed to promote a two-state solution and ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Spain recently hosted a critical summit in Madrid, gathering representatives from 20 European and Arab nations to urgently address the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The discussions came in light of the humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israel's nearly three-month blockade, prompting calls for sanctions to compel Israel to cease its military operations. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares emphasized the necessity for humanitarian aid to flow "massively, unimpeded," asserting that aid should not be controlled by Israel, which he described as humanity's "open wound," according to Al Jazeera and Le Monde.

This meeting succeeded previous gatherings aimed at pushing for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Albares declared the current military actions by Israel to be "inhumane" and "senseless," calling for members to review their cooperation with Israel and consider sanctions, including an arms embargo. The gathering included officials from various countries, many of whom have recognized a Palestinian state, illustrating a shift in diplomatic stance among long-standing allies of Israel, according to Dawn and Le Monde.

At the summit, representatives from notable European nations, including France, Germany, and Italy, joined their Arab counterparts from Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as representatives from the Arab League. Albares stressed that the collective goal is to stop a war that has led to immense suffering, with the aim of ensuring humanitarian aid reaches those in need without any conditions or oversight by Israel. This collaborative approach marks a crucial step toward fostering a diplomatic path for peace in the region, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn.