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RAFAH, Egypt -- The Israeli government said Friday it would summon the Belgian and Spanish ambassadors after remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his Belgian counterpart Alexander de Croo on the war between Israel and Hamas.
The announcement came after the two leaders criticized Israel for the suffering of Palestinian civilians under Israeli military operations in Gaza. Sánchez also called for European Union recognition of a Palestinian state, saying Spain might do so on its own.
Speaking at a joint news conference on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing with Gaza on Friday, Sánchez said the time had come for the international community and the European Union to once and for all recognize a Palestinian state. He said it would be better if the EU did it together, "but if this is not the case ... Spain will take their own decisions."
Sánchez was speaking at the end of a two-day visit to Israel, the Palestinian territories and Egypt with de Croo. Spain currently holds the EU's rotational presidency, and Belgium takes over in January.
Sánchez reiterated comments made Thursday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the killing of civilians.
"I also reiterate Israel's right to defend itself, but it must do so within the parameters and limits imposed by international humanitarian law, and this is not the case," Sánchez said. "The indiscriminate killing of civilians, including thousands of boys and girls, [is] completely...
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