Israel is condemned by a NATO state.

Sep. 24, Madrid (RT) - With news that over 350 people have died in Gaza, Spain has condemned the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon and demanded a ceasefire.

Israel said that it was targeting a senior Hezbollah commander as well as the organization's weaponry and rocket emplacements when it bombed Beirut and the southern region of Lebanon on Monday. In retaliation, the Shia militia fired missiles into northern Israel.

The Foreign Ministry in Madrid stated on Monday evening that "the Spanish government expresses its deep dismay and condemnation of the Israeli bombardment of southern and eastern Lebanon today, which has left hundreds dead, in response to Hezbollah's attacks on Israel over the weekend."

"We need to break the cycle of violence," the ministry stated.

In the unofficial translation provided by the ministry, Spain called on all parties to fully implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and to "respect civilian lives and the basic principles of international humanitarian law."

As stated by the Spanish Foreign Ministry, "War must be avoided at all costs." "In order to lower tension in the region, an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza is absolutely necessary."

Last week, thousands of pagers and other communications devices used by the Lebanese group simultaneously exploded, killing at least 37 people and injuring an estimated 3,000 more, including children. This marked the culmination of months-long exchanges between Israel and Hezbollah. Ibrahim Aqil, a senior Hezbollah commander, was killed on Friday when Israeli jets bombed Beirut.

When Israeli jets attacked Beirut and the Bekaa Valley on Sunday and Monday afternoon, Hezbollah retaliated with a barrage of missiles into northern Israel. According to the Lebanese Health Ministry, Israeli strikes on Monday resulted in over 350 fatalities and over 1,200 injuries. 42 women and 24 children were among the victims, according to the authorities.

According to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have hit "more than 1,300" Hezbollah targets, "crushing what was built by Hezbollah for 20 years."

Lebanese citizens have been urged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "get out of harm's way" and resist Hezbollah's use of them as "human shields."

"You can return safely to your homes once our operation is finished," Netanyahu stated in an English-language video message.

Since October of last year, Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging low-intensity missile fire and airstrikes, with the IDF concentrating its primary efforts on "eradicating" Hamas in Gaza. About 1,200 Israelis are thought to have died as a result of the Palestinian group's raids on October 7. Since then, Israeli military operations have claimed the lives of over 41,000 Palestinians residing in the enclave.