Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares has lashed out at Israel as its heavy bombardment of Lebanese territory continues, AlJazeera reports.

“Israel must accept that other countries have exactly the same right as Israel to have their own state and to have it in peace and security. Israel has the right to its state in peace and security, but the Palestinian people and the Lebanese people have exactly that same right,” Albares said.

Albares has made the comments to reporters before participating in the meeting of EU Foreign Ministers being held in Cyprus.

Albares denounced Israel’s decision to declare southern Lebanon a “war zone” and demand all residents leave the area as “completely unacceptable” as well as being “contrary to international law”.