Ljubljana: Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob on Thursday endorsed Spain’s call to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon and the rising toll on civilians.

According to Anadolu Agency, Golob shared a statement via the government’s account on US social media company X. He remarked, “Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel is hitting Lebanon in the hardest way possible. We are witnessing indiscriminate strikes against densely populated areas with a very high number of civilian casualties, including children.” Golob accused Israel of violating international law, obstructing peace efforts, and exacerbating the suffering of the Lebanese population.

Golob extended support to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, saying, “I join the call of the Prime Minister of Spain for suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement.” He further cautioned against an escalation, emphasizing, “We should not let Lebanon become the new Gaza.”

On Wednesday, Sanchez called for the suspension of the 1995 Association Agreement with Israel, which oversees trade and political cooperation, following what he described as the “harshest attack” since the offensive began. Israel conducted one of its most significant strikes in Lebanon since last month, targeting Hezbollah. The attacks resulted in at least 254 fatalities and 1,165 injuries, as reported by Lebanon’s Civil Defense.

The escalation of the conflict has sparked concerns about the possibility of Israel renewing its occupation of southern Lebanon, potentially extending to the Litani River.