Madrid: Organizations behind Spain's 'End Arms Trade with Israel' campaign demonstrated outside the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on Tuesday, calling on lawmakers to immediately unblock legislation that would ban arms trade with Israel.

According to Anadolu Agency, the protest, held under the slogan 'Time is Running Out, Arms Embargo Now,' was organized by the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP) and supported by the junior coalition partner Sumar, the Podemos party, and Basque and Catalan opposition parties represented in parliament. Campaign representatives criticized lawmakers for failing to advance the bill, noting that it has yet to reach the parliamentary floor despite being submitted nearly two years ago.

During the demonstration, organizers presented hourglasses to parliamentary groups to symbolize the urgency of approving the legislation. The proposed reform of Spain's arms trade law was submitted to Congress in July 2024 by the Plurinational Sumar, ERC, and Mixed parliamentary groups. It seeks to amend Law 53/2007 by introducing a legal framework that would allow Spain to impose arms embargoes on states 'under investigation for war crimes, crimes against humanity or genocide.'

RESCOP representatives emphasized the increasing violence against the Palestinian people and the global escalation of conflicts, stating that 'it is more urgent than ever' for the legislation to be approved. The campaign continues to press for immediate action from lawmakers to address these pressing concerns.