Spanish campaign urges Congress to unblock arms embargo bill on Israel

Organizations behind Spain’s “End Arms Trade with Israel” campaign demonstrated outside the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on Tuesday, urging lawmakers to unblock legislation that would ban arms trade with Israel. The protest, organized by the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP) and supported by several political parties, highlighted the two-year delay in advancing the bill. Organizers presented hourglasses to parliamentary groups, symbolizing the urgency of approving the legislation, which would amend Law 53/2007 to allow arms embargoes on states “under investigation for war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.” RESCOP representatives stated, “The violence against the Palestinian people and the escalation of conflicts globally have only worsened,” making it “more urgent than ever” for the legislation to be approved.