In brief
In response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has escalated his criticism of Israel, stating that its military actions are tantamount to genocide. Spain plans to formalize an arms embargo and ban ships supplying Israel, alongside increasing humanitarian aid. Israel has responded by banning two Spanish ministers from entry, accusing them of supporting antisemitic rhetoric. The developments come amid ongoing violence in the region, with significant loss of life reported.
MADRID — As the 23-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has stepped up his criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza, labeling them as genocide against a defenseless population. In a recent announcement, Sánchez outlined several new measures his government intends to implement to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration to address the humanitarian crisis arising from the ongoing conflict.Sánchez stated, This is not self-defense; it's the extermination of a defenseless people. It is a violation of all humanitarian laws, and the international community is failing to act to stop this tragedy.Among the proposed actions is the formalization of an arms embargo against Israel, which the Spanish government claims has been in place de facto since October. Furthermore, Sánchez announced plans to prohibit ships transporting fuel to Israel’s armed forces from utilizing Spanish ports and to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza to a total of 150 million euros (approximately $176 million) by 2026.The proposed measures must still receive parliamentary approval. Other initiatives include heightened support for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, known as UNRWA, and a ban on goods produced in Israeli settlements located within the occupied Palestinian territories. Sánchez remarked, While these measures may not be enough to halt the aggression or war crimes, we hope they will pressure Netanyahu to alleviate some of the suffering faced by the Palestinian population.In retaliation, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized Sánchez, accusing him of attempting to divert attention from domestic corruption scandals and characterizing the Spanish government's actions as antisemitic. On this point, Saar announced that Israel has imposed bans on two left-wing Spanish ministers—Labor Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego—for having previously referred to Israel as a genocidal state and for endorsing sanctions against Israel.Since the onset of hostilities triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200, predominantly civilians, the Israeli military campaign in Gaza has reportedly left over 64,000 Palestinians dead, a figure cited by the Gaza Health Ministry without clarifying how many fatalities were militants versus civilians.Historically, Spain has advocated for the recognition of a Palestinian state and has joined efforts with other nations in seeking legal actions against Israel, including an attempt to join South Africa's case at the U.N. accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza last year. In response to the recent tensions, Saar downplayed the importance of Spain's actions, stating simply, We don’t need Spain to protect the land of Israel.\
