Spain's defense minister says a "real genocide" is taking place in Gaza
Spain's Minister of Defence Margarita Robles said on Saturday that what is happening in Gaza is a "real genocide."
During a celebration for Spain’s Armed Forces Day on Saturday, the minister told state-owned public broadcaster TVE, "We cannot ignore what is happening in Gaza, which is a real genocide."
More than 35,000 people have died in Israel's offensive in Gaza, according to the enclave's health ministry. CNN cannot independently verify the ministry's figures due to the lack of international media access to the war zone.
Earlier this week, Spain, alongside Norway and Ireland, announced its plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state from May 28.
Israel's foreign ministry is considering further diplomatic steps against the three countries after the announcement on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter has said.
Israel is under mounting legal and political pressure over its Gaza campaign and has denied genocide in an ongoing case at the International Court of Justice, brought by South Africa.
Separately, this week the International Criminal Court announced it was seeking arrest warrants for Hamas' leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
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