Spain is hosting a meeting of ministers from Muslim and European countries aimed at advancing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. AFP
The meeting brings together members of the Arab-Islamic Contact Group for Gaza, including Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, according to a statement from the Spanish foreign ministry earlier in the day.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will welcome participants at his official residence before the meeting takes place at the foreign ministry in central Madrid, hosted by his top diplomat, José Manuel Albares, the earlier statement added.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, is also participating in the talks, his office said in a separate statement.
"The ministerial gathering will advance the discussion on the need to reinforce the engagement of the international community on peace and security in the Middle East, and the challenge to create an international consensus on a way forward based on the two-state solution," the statement said.
Albares hosted a diplomatic meeting with the group in May in which participants discussed what steps could be taken to advance the two-state solution, which would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem alongside Israel.
Calls for the solution have grown since the outbreak of Israel's war on Gaza, now in its 11th month.
Israel's relentless bombardment and ground invasion have killed at least 41,118 Palestinians in Gaza. The UN rights office says most of the dead are women and children.
The Spanish PM has urged the European Union to recognize the State of Palestine while calling for an immediate halt to the Israeli bombing of Gaza.
Under his watch, Spain on May 28 along with Ireland and Norway formally recognised a Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Earlier this month he announced that the first "bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine" would be held before the end of the year. He said he expected "several collaboration agreements between the two states" to be signed.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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