“Today the risk of escalation is once more increasing in a dangerous way” in Lebanon, said Sánchez, at a news conference with visiting Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

“So we must again make a fresh appeal for restraint, for a de-escalation and for peaceful coexistence between countries, in the name of peace,” he added.

Sánchez was speaking to journalists after more than an hour’s talks with Abbas.

Bienvenido a España, querido presidente Abbas. Su visita constituye un hito extraordinario en la historia de nuestros dos países.

España está comprometida con la solución de los dos Estados como única vía para poner fin al conflicto en Oriente Próximo, debemos ofrecer una… pic.twitter.com/4b8aUSmNrc

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) September 19, 2024

Neither Sánchez nor Abbas referred directly to the explosions in Lebanon, which took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Israel has not yet commented on the unprecedented wave of attacks in which Hezbollah operatives’ pagers and walkie-talkies exploded in supermarkets, on streets and at funerals.

But Lebanon’s Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Thursday called on the United Nations to intervene in what he called Israel’s “technological war” against it.

Lebanon’s Health Minister Firass Abiad said Thursday 37 people had been killed and more than 3,500 wounded in the explosions of the hand-held devices over the last two days.

Sánchez pointed out that this is Abbas’s first visit to Spain since Madrid took the decision to recognise the state of Palestine, on May 28th. Ireland and Norway took the same decision in May.