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Israel Foreign Minister’s ‘Flamenco Video’ Is ‘Scandalous And Execrable,’ Says Madrid

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted a short video on X Sunday. "Hamas: Gracias España" ("Hamas: Thanks Spain"), it says, showing the Spanish flag and a dancing couple, interspersed with Hamas fighters and fleeing people.
Edited By
Ramananda Sengupta
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Israel video angers spain
File photo shows Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz (right) with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Schallenberg in Tel Aviv 27 February 2024, (BMEIA/ Michael Gruber)

MADRID: Spain’s foreign minister on Sunday condemned a video posted by his Israeli counterpart Israel Katz as “scandalous and execrable”.

This is part of a growing spat between the two countries over the Gaza war. Spain last week announced recognizing Palestine as a state.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz posted a short video on X Sunday. “Hamas: Gracias España” (“Hamas: Thanks Spain”), it says. It shows the Spanish flag and a dancing couple, interspersed with Hamas fighters and fleeing people.

In recent days, two Spanish ministers referred to a genocide in Gaza.

“We won’t fall into provocations,” said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. “The video is scandalous and execrable.”

“It’s scandalous because all know Spain condemned Hamas’ actions from the start. And execrable for using a Spanish cultural symbol.”

Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles said on Saturday the Gaza conflict is “genocide”. Deputy PM Yolanda Diaz also described it as genocide.

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Israel rejects accusations of genocide against Palestinians at the International Court of Justice. It argues it defends itself against Hamas.

The Israeli embassy in Madrid responded to Robles’ comments on X Saturday. “We regret Robles endorsed the false Hamas story.”

The EU and US deem Hamas a terrorist organization. Spain, Ireland and Norway declared recognizing a Palestinian state on May 28.

Israel said this “rewards terrorism” and recalled ambassadors from the three capitals. Robles said recognizing Palestine aims to end Gaza violence.

Katz had released a similar video on Norway :

Israel’s Gaza campaign killed nearly 36,000 Palestinians, Gaza officials say. It destroyed much of the enclave.

Israel launched to eliminate Hamas after the October. 7 attack, in which 1,200 were killed and 250 taken hostage.
(REUTERS)

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Ramananda Sengupta
In a career spanning over three decades and counting, I’ve been the Foreign Editor of The Telegraph, Outlook Magazine and The New Indian Express. I helped set up rediff.com’s editorial operations in San Jose and New York, helmed sify.com, and was the founder editor of India.com.

My work has featured in national and international publications like the Al Jazeera Centre for Studies, Global Times and The Asahi Shimbun. My one constant over all these years, however, has been the attempt to understand rising India’s place in the world.

On demand, I can rustle up a mean salad, my oil-less pepper chicken is to die for, and depending on the time of the day, all it takes to rock my soul is some beer and some jazz or good ole rhythm & blues.

Talk to me about foreign and strategic affairs, media, South Asia, China, and of course India.
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