Pedro Sanchez has branded US-Israeli action in the Middle East a ‘failure of brute force’.

The Spanish prime minister said international law must be respected now more than ever to ‘safeguard the multilateral order and strengthen it.’

The socialist leader was speaking to reporters as he arrived to a summit of EU leaders in Cyprus on Friday.

Sanchez said: ‘The crisis provoked in the Middle East over this illegal war, has demonstrated the failure of brute force and the need to respect international law, to safeguard the multilateral order and strengthen it…

‘Because the law of the strongest makes the world much weaker and this is what we’re seeing unfortunately in the Middle East.

‘A situation where the objective of the war is not even known.

‘Secondly, nor does there appear to be trust between the parties to be able to reach a deal in the short term, so where does this leave us?

‘First, with suffering, the loss of thousands of lives as a result of the wars.

‘Secondly, hundreds of thousands of people displaced, for example in Lebanon, thirdly, the sinking of the international world order…

‘And finally, economic consequences that are already being paid by homes, business, industries and the economies of Europe.’

Sanchez also brushed off reports that the US is considering trying to suspend Spain from NATO.

According to a report by Reuters, the idea appears in an internal email circulating at senior levels within the US Department of Defence (or Department of War).

Sanchez, dismissed the report, saying his government does not act on internal emails but on official positions from Washington.

He reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to its allies, while stressing that cooperation must remain within the framework of international law.