MADRID (AP) – Spain says it will propose the European Union exert strong diplomatic pressure on Israel to end its blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said at a joint press conference with Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, Saturday that Spain wans to “forge a strong common position” with EU countries in the face of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Zapatero says Spain’s Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, would propose the EU deploy “all its political and diplomatic capability” to end the Gaza blockade at its foreign affairs council on Monday. He says he is confident European countries will back the proposal, as well as efforts by White House envoy George Mitchell to try and rebuild trust between Israeli and Palestinian leaders.