Catalan president defends ceasefire in Gaza and arrival of humanitarian aid

Catalan president Pere Aragonès has defended a ceasefire in Gaza and the arrival of humanitarian aid, as well as for "hostilities from both sides" to come to an end, during a speech in Parliament on Wednesday morning in reference to the Israel-Hamas war. 

The president also asked for the release of all prisoners and for Israel to obey international law. 

"All dead civilians are victims," Aragonès said, emphasizing that the ethnicity of these victims, whether Israeli or Palestinian, is irrelevant.  

Meanwhile, far-left CUP spokesperson Carles Riera warned that MPs "cannot confuse who is the occupant, the occupied, the oppressor and the oppressed." During his speech, members of the party displayed a Palestinian flag and a Catalan pro-independence 'estelada' flag, as well as banners reading: 'No en el meu nom' (Not in my name). 

Riera said the conflict will not be resolved until Israel puts an end to apartheid on Palestinians and lets the territory vote.

Israel's right to defend itself 'within international law framework' 

The Catalan parliament spokespeople have approved a joint statement on the conflict in Gaza, the attack by Hamas and Israel's response. 

The text was signed with the support of pro-independence Junts, the Socialists, the conservative People's Party and Ciudadanos, but rejected by pro-independence Esquerra Republicana, anti-austerity En Comú Podem, far-right Vox and far-left CUP. 

The statement "condemns Hamas’ terrorist attack" and "shows its respect to all victims," as well as "urging a ceasefire guaranteeing civilians protection, the release of all prisoners, a stop to all gunfire, an end to electricity and water cuts, and to cease bombing Gaza, as well as opening secure humanitarian aid corridors." 

The joint text also highlights the "right of Israel to defend itself from these discriminatory attacks within international law and humanitarian rights." This last sentence is the reason many left-wing groups disagreed with the text: it does not include the "condemnation" of some of Israel's attacks. 

The text will be read out on Thursday in the Catalan parliament and will warn of the different "territorial consequences that a continued violence can have on the area."