Barcelona suspends relations with Israel 'until definitive ceasefire' 

In its plenary session on Friday, the Barcelona City Council approved the suspension of institutional relations with the Israeli government.   

The text states that relations will not be resumed "until there is a definitive ceasefire that guarantees respect for the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people and compliance with the United Nations resolutions on the conflict".  

The proposal was approved with the votes of the left-wing Barcelona en Comú, the Socialists and the Catalan pro-independence ERC. Trias for BCN, the conservative People's Party and the far-right Vox voted against.   

The text also calls for the introduction of a clause in all public contracts guaranteeing that "no operator belongs to or carries out" financial operations or economic activities "that violate international humanitarian law".  

However, city council sources have confirmed to the Catalan News Agency (ACN) that the interruption of institutional relations with the Israeli government does not affect the relations between Barcelona and the city of Tel Aviv, which were suspended during the term of Ada Colau and which the current mayor, Jaume Collboni, resumed in September.  

"It is not a war, it is genocide, and as President Pedro Sánchez said, it is unacceptable and we must not only denounce it, but act," said former mayor Ada Colau.  

Socialist Maria Eugènia Gay defended her vote, saying that human rights "must be respected without exception and are above any political discussion". She said Barcelona "condemns the brutal attack carried out by Hamas," but urged Israel to agree to a definitive cease-fire.  

"Half the population of the Gaza Strip are children. Boys and girls who cannot sleep because they see the ghosts of their dead brothers," ERC councilor Elisenda Alamany said. 

Spain could recognize Palestinian state 

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Friday urged the international community, especially the European Union, to recognize the Palestinian state and did not rule out doing so unilaterally.   

"We must replace violence with hope and peace," Sánchez said during a visit to Israel and Palestine. "The indiscriminate killing of civilians is totally unacceptable," he added.   

In a joint appearance with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, the two leaders called for an end to the "endless cycle of violence" in the Middle East, urged Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and advocated a "lasting" cease-fire.  

Moments after Sánchez spoke, Israel summoned the Spanish ambassador, Ana Maria Salomon, to give her a "harsh reprimand" for the prime minister's words.