Spain announced Thursday it would join the lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice in the Hague, becoming the first European nation to officially back the case.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said his country would officially add itself to the list of petitioners in the case that alleges genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The lawsuit – initially filed by South Africa – has received backing from countries such as Chile, Mexico, and Turkey.
The move continues Spain's recent hardline stance toward Israel under the governance of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. In late may, Spain – as well as Ireland and Norway – recognized a Palestinian state, although ironically, its diplomats have refused to work from Ramallah due to concerns over lifestyle and safety.
Analysts view the decision as driven by Sánchez's need to maintain his minority government's alliance with the far-left Unidas Podemos party, which holds extremely critical views of Israel.
"Sánchez is taking an extremely hardline position toward Israel as part of his political survival efforts due to his dependence on Unidas Podemos," Henrique Zimmerman, an international affairs analyst at Reichman University, said.
Zimmerman noted that Unidas Podemos leader and Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz is a proponent of the anti-Israel boycott movement BDS, advocating for cutting all ties with the Jewish state.
While largely symbolic given the ICC's limited jurisdiction over non-member states like Israel, the lawsuit process could take years to wind through the judicial system in The Hague.
Israel rejects the "genocide" allegations, asserting its military actions in Gaza are defensive measures against Hamas and other terror groups threatening Israeli civilians.
