Europe's response to Gaza has been a failure, says Spanish PM

'Double standards over Gaza and Ukraine' risk undermining west

- Sam Jones, Patrick Wintour, Jamie Wilson

Europe and the west's double standards over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza threaten to undermine its global standing, the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has warned, describing the response to Israel's assault on the Palestinian territory as one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.

In an interview with the Guardian ahead of talks with the prime minister, Keir Starmer, in London today, the socialist leader also said the US under Donald Trump was trying to end the post-second world war, rules-based global order it had originally created.

He also defended the benefits of migration and blamed traditional rightwing parties for breaking the consensus over the response to the climate emergency by copying the policies of their populist rivals.

Sánchez - the first senior European leader to accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza - said he was pleased that other European nations were following Spain's lead in recognising a Palestinian state, but accepted Europe's response had been poor.

“It is a failure,” he said. “Absolutely. It is also the reality that, within the EU, there are countries that are divided when it comes to how to influence Israel. But in my opinion, it's not acceptable and we can't last longer if we want to increase our credibility when it comes to other crises, such as the one we face in Ukraine.

“The roots of these wars are completely different, but, at the end of the day, the world is looking at the EU and also at western society, and asking: 'Why are you doing double standards when it comes to Ukraine and when it comes to Gaza?'”

Speaking as he attempts to reassert himself on the international stage and move past a series of damaging corruption allegations that have battered his administration and fuelled calls for a snap general election, Sánchez said he was pushing Europe to do more, including punishing Israel financially.