(Update: Ione Bellara's further appeal, 30 October) Ione Bellara, the Spanish Minister of Social Rights has called upon the countries to act to end Israel's murderous war against 2.6 million Palestinians in the Gaza strip. The transcript of her short speech is:

"Today, we are here accompanying the people of our country and also all of those throughout Europe who are demanding that this planned genocide,this ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people done by the State of Israel, end once and for all. We think that all European leaders, including ours, are not up to the task or grasp the severity of the circumstances. We do not want to be complicit of this planned genocide and we think that Europe has to act urgently.

"I think that Europe is going to pay dearly, very dearly, for this hypocrisy. The hypocrisy of preaching human rights around world and then, when you have to stand up for them, when you have to live up to them, we do absolutely nothing. Citizens are stunned seeing how the entire position of the European Union is subordinated to the interests of the United States and the State of Israel. We can do something and we can do it today. Suspend relationships - diplomatic relations - with Israel, apply exemplary sanctions against Netanyahu and the entire political leadership. Also, carry out an arms embargo and, of course, bring Netanyahu before the international Criminal Court so that he can be tried for what he is, a war criminal.

"I insist, not with our silence and not with our complicity. We need the European Union to act."

See also : Firebrand Spanish minister emerges as strong voice against Israel’s Gaza genocide (30/10/23) | PressTV, EU may become complicit in ‘genocide’ – Spanish official — RT World News (30/10/23) | RT

Comment

Whilst neither Israel nor the United States recognise the authority of the International Criminal Court, an ICC arrest warrant would severely restrict Netanyahu's ability to travel to countries which uphold the authority of the ICC. Russian President Vladimir Putin was prevented from being able to attend the BRICS Summit in August in Johannesburg, because, on 17 March, the ICC had issued warrant for his arrest for his "unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation".

If the ICC can seek the arrest of Vladimir Putin for ordering the evacuation of Russian children away from where they were being bombarded by Ukrainian artillery, then surely it can also issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu and those around them for the murder of more than 8,000 Palestinians and the destruction of much of Gaza's housing and infrastructure.

Ione Bellara's proposed sanctions against Israel would most likely cause ordinary Israelis to remove Netanyahu and others around him from office act to end the war. After that they could be delivered to the International Criminal Court or prosecution.

Then peace in the Middle East, between, Israel, Palestine and all of their neighbours would finally have been achieved.

Appendix: Ione Bellara's further appeal for action to end Netanyahu's mass-murder of Palestinians - 29 October 2023