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In several influential European countries, solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian people is finally into action. Though such action may seem belated considering the tens of thousands of lives lost in the genocide-stricken Strip, it is, nonetheless, critical for the future of the Palestinian cause.

The political shift underway in Europe is a development of strategic importance. This is not because Europe’s voice carries a higher value on the scale of global solidarity, but because of the the continent played in the inception of Israel, as well as its sustained political and financial support for its settler-colonial project.

For decades, this support has a political and economic shield, allowing Israel to operate outside the bounds of international law. As Europe forms a core part of the Western political, legal and economic landscape, any fundamental shift in perception here, coupled with the deeply embedded solidarity in the Global South, could finally serve as the catalyst needed to isolate Israel on the international stage — a critical prerequisite for badly needed accountability.

Though Ireland has historically as a model of sensible and ethical politics on Palestine, other examples cannot be overlooked. They include Sweden, Norway, Belgium and Slovenia. These countries’ positions, especially since the start of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, have been largely shaped by the degree of popular protests and civil society mobilization. Their actions, though varied, signal a growing chasm between European public opinion and the traditional pro-Israel policies of many governments.

Any fundamental shift in Europe could finally serve as the catalyst to isolate Israel on the international stage

Dr. Ramzy Baroud

Spain, however, represents a critical and comprehensive case. The change underway in Madrid is a near-ideal model because it is built on three interconnected pillars: a vibrant and well-organized, civil society-based solidarity, a fundamental change in official political discourse and, most importantly, meaningful, quantifiable action.

In June last year, Spain made a bold and historic move by formally joining South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people. That step, though moral and logical, was particularly significant when compared to the positions of other major European powers. Germany, for instance, has to defend Israel against such an accusation, while the UK, through outgoing Foreign Minister David Lammy, last week that London was not yet convinced Israel’s actions constituted genocide.

Spain’s current position is not entirely a surprise. It is a culmination of a shifting political attitude that has been building for some time. In November 2023, then-Minister for Social Rights Ione Belarra openly accused Israel of “planned genocide.” This declaration marked a significant shift in her country’s official discourse, moving beyond polite diplomatic platitudes to a language of moral clarity.

This discourse led to Madrid’s of Palestine as a state last year — a joint declaration alongside Ireland and Norway. This decision not only added to the growing list of nations recognizing Palestinian statehood but also opened the door to yet more similar recognitions. While some countries are using their position on a Palestinian state as a distracting tactic from their failure to take any punitive action, Spain’s actions appear to be on a different political wavelength. Indeed, Spain last week a new set of sanctions against Israel, including a ban on weapons sales and a prohibition on ships carrying fuel for Israel’s military from using Spanish ports.

For many in Spain, even these steps are seen as too paltry and insignificant in the face of a war that has more than 20,000 children. The Spanish people are right to expect more meaningful steps from their government and their demands are rooted in a history specific to Spain’s collective experience.

In 1974, Spain many countries in the Global South in voting in favor of UN General Assembly Resolutions 3236 and 3237, which recognized Palestinian self-determination. A few years later, Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez made a historic gesture by Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat in Madrid. Such initial gestures of support continued for a time. However, following the 1991 , Spain slowly rebranded itself as a neutral intermediary, eventually going on to repeat the usual European rhetoric about Israel’s “right to defend itself” and the like.

What is taking place in Spain is true grassroots solidarity, unburdened by doublespeak or political bravado

Dr. Ramzy Baroud

Spain’s ability to maintain this position was made possible, in part, by the fact that the Palestinian Authority was far more concerned with maintaining its status as the official representative of the Palestinian people — and the international funds and legitimacy that come with this — than with holding Israel accountable under international law. Then, it seemed impractical for civil society to try to hold its government to higher standards than those demanded by the Palestinian leadership itself.

However, the Israeli genocide in Gaza has shattered that dynamic. The unceasing Israeli extermination campaign and the Palestinian resistance in the Strip have rendered the PA virtually irrelevant on the global stage, recentered Gaza as the true representative of the Palestinian collective experience and revealed the full extent of Israel’s criminal actions.

This means that the Spanish people gained a major say in their government’s position on Palestine. Last September, more than 200 trade unions and nongovernmental organizations for a 24-hour general strike, raising the ceiling of their demands to the complete severance of all political, economic and military ties with Israel. Every step taken by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government since then has been a direct response to, and an attempt to satisfy, these demands.

What is taking place in Spain is true grassroots solidarity, unburdened by doublespeak or political bravado. It is a genuine civil society action centered on a shared historical experience and struggle against state-sponsored violence and fascism. While every nation has a unique story, the Spanish experience is proving to be a model worthy of study, emulation and, certainly, deep respect.

• Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and the editor of The Palestine Chronicle. His latest book, “Before the Flood,” will be published by Seven Stories Press. His website is www.ramzybaroud.net. X: @RamzyBaroud