Madrid hosts talks on Gaza as aid crisis deepens

Reuters

European and Arab lawmakers have met in Madrid to push for an end to the Gaza war and demand unrestricted humanitarian aid access.

Lawmakers from European and Arab countries have met in Madrid to discuss the war in Gaza.

Some of Israel’s longtime allies have joined the growing international pressure after it expanded military operations against Gaza’s Hamas rulers, whose 2023 attack on Israel triggered the devastating conflict.

A nearly three-month aid blockade has deepened shortages of food, water, fuel, and medicine in the Palestinian territory, raising fears of famine.

Aid organizations say the limited supplies recently allowed in by Israel fall far short of what is needed.

The high-level talks mark the fifth official meeting of what is known as “The Madrid Group.”

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has called for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza “massively, without conditions and without limits, and not controlled by Israel.”

Representatives from European countries including France, Britain, Germany, and Italy joined envoys from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Morocco, the Arab League, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Norway, Iceland, Ireland, and Slovenia—countries that, like Spain, have recognized a Palestinian state—also took part, along with Brazil.

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