Gaza war: Israel will stop work of Spanish consulate for Palestinians

Israel announced on Friday (May 24)that it will stop work of the Spanish consulate for Palestinians. In a post on X, Israel's Foreign MinisterIsrael Katz said, "I have decided to cut the connection between the diplomatic representation of Spain in Israel and the Palestinians and prohibit the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to Palestinians in Judea and Samaria."

Katz said the stepwas takenfollowingSpain's planto formally recognise a Palestinian state. Apart from Spain, Ireland and Norway also announced their plans to recognise a Palestinian state.

The three European countries said they wanted tohelp secure a halt to Israel's devastating Gaza offensive and revive peace talks that stalled a decade ago.

Israel reprimands Irish, Spanish, and Norwegianenvoys

On Thursday, the Israeli governmentreprimanded the ambassadors of Ireland, Norway and Spain over their plans to recognise the Palestinian state. Addressing a press conference,government spokesperson Avi Hyman said that recognising aPalestinianstatedoes not promotepeace,but "perpetuates war."

"Anykind ofso-called solution for the Israeli-Palestinianconflict that compromises Israel's security does not mean peace. There will be zero compromise on our security," Hyman told reporters.

"Other than the October 7th massacre, what exactly has changed in thePalestinianAuthority to warrant this prize? They continue with their policy of pay for slaying, they continue to educate their children to hate, they still haven't held an election in 19 years," Hyman added.

The Israeli government spokesperson pointed out that the Palestinian Authority had still not condemned Hamas' October 7 attack. "So what is thisPalestinianstatethat you recognised? It is simply a public declaration that spits in the face of the Israelipeople,while we fight a war for our verysurvival,against the genocidal forces that surround us," he further said.

ICJ to rule on South Africa's Gaza ceasefire bid today

Meanwhile, on Friday,the International Court of Justice(ICJ) will rule on a requestby South Africa to order Israel to implement a ceasefire in theGazaStrip.

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South Africa has petitioned the ICJ for emergency measures to order Israel to cease its military operations in Gazaincludingin Rafah, where it is pressing an offensive.

(With inputs from agencies)