María Dolores Corujo: “Lanzarote cannot remain silent in the face of a massacre that shames humanity”
The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has submitted a proposal for an institutional declaration aimed at ensuring the insular Corporation expresses its strongest condemnation of the genocide occurring in Gaza and firmly supports the measures initiated by the Government of Spain to halt this tragedy, alleviate the suffering of the civilian population, and demand accountability from its perpetrators.
The General Secretary of the PSOE in Lanzarote and Member of Congress, María Dolores Corujo, explained that what is happening in Gaza can no longer be regarded as a military response operation. “We are not witnessing just another armed conflict, but rather an extermination campaign where hospitals are bombed, the civilian population is starved, and thousands of children are subjected to horror and malnutrition. Lanzarote cannot remain silent in the face of a massacre that shames humanity,” she asserted.
Corujo recalled that the Government of Spain has already made several firm decisions in defence of the Palestinian people, from recognising the State of Palestine to halting arms sales to Israel, condemning forced displacement, and increasing humanitarian aid. However, she emphasised that “in light of the inaction of major powers and the blockage of the Security Council, our country has decided to take a further step and implement new concrete, decisive, and courageous measures to stop the genocide and uphold international law.”
Among these measures, Corujo highlighted the approval of a Royal Decree Law to formalise the arms embargo against Israel, which has essentially been in place since October 2023, as well as the prohibition of the transit of vessels through Spanish ports carrying fuel intended for the Israeli Armed Forces. The denial of Spanish airspace for aircraft transporting defence materials destined for Israel is also included, alongside the prohibition of entry into Spanish territory for individuals directly involved in war crimes, human rights violations, or genocidal acts in the Gaza Strip.
In this same vein, the Government has announced the ban on importing products from illegal settlements, both in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as limiting Spanish consular services in these settlements to the minimum legally required assistance. All these efforts aim to counteract occupations, prevent the forced displacement of the Palestinian population, and support the viability of a two-state solution.
Furthermore, the Spanish Executive has reinforced its commitment to the Palestinian Authority through new collaborative projects in essential areas such as agriculture, medical assistance, and food security. It has also announced a significant increase in its contribution to UNRWA, the United Nations agency responsible for assisting the Palestinian people, with an additional allocation of ten million euros. Additionally, the humanitarian aid and cooperation budget for Gaza will reach 150 million euros by 2026.
“We know that none of these decisions, on their own, will halt the invasion, but they can help alleviate some of the suffering of the civilian population, increase international pressure on the Netanyahu government, and assure the Spanish people that they are on the right side of history,” stated Corujo.
The proposal to be debated at the next Cabildo plenary session also includes the condemnation of terrorist attacks by Hamas, support for the Jewish people’s right to have their own state and live in security, and, at the same time, the firm conviction that this right cannot be used as an excuse to justify the mass murder of innocents and the systematic violation of international humanitarian law.
“To be consistent in defending human rights means condemning terrorism unequivocally, but it also requires raising our voice when those claiming to combat it commit even more atrocious crimes. What is happening in Gaza is not self-defence: it is extermination, it is impunity, and it is international complicity. That is why Spain is taking action, and that is why Lanzarote must also take a stand,” concluded Corujo.
