The Government of Spain decided to interrupt the sale of weapons to Israel. The measure was announced by the country’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez as a form of “holding genocide” provided by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
The country is one of the main European voices against the actions of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu at the Palestinian enclave and often exchanges accusations with Israel, which has not had ambassador in Madrid since Sánchez recognized Palestine in 2024.
The measures are “another step (…) to stop genocide in Gaza, pursue their authors and support the Palestinian population,” said the leader. The prime minister also announced a weapon embargo, a ban on entry into Spanish airspace to aircraft carrying products to Israel and ban on fuel -loaded vessels to the Israel army in ports of Spain.
Finally, Pedro Sánchez announced the increase in support for the Palestinians and the UN UN Agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa). “We know that all these measures will not be enough to prevent invasion or war crimes, but we hope they will serve to increase pressure” over the government of Benjamin Netanyahu and “relieve part of the suffering that the Palestinian population faces,” the leader added.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Spain of promoting “an anti-wasly and anti-Semitic campaign sustained” to “divert the attention of serious corruption scandals.” Saar referred to the legal issues that Sánchez faces, as charges of bribery in exchange for public works against two of his former collaborators.
Gideon Sarr also announced sanctions against the Spanish government. The main one is the ban on the entry into Israel of the vice president and Minister of Labor of Spain, Yolanda Díaz and the Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, of Palestinian origin.
