Spain PM Sanchez imposes arms embargo on Israel to ‘stop Gaza genocide’
Spain has announced sweeping measures against Israel, including a total arms embargo, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez saying the move is aimed at “stopping the genocide in Gaza” and “supporting the Palestinian population”.
“There is a difference between defending your country and bombing hospitals or starving innocent children,” Sanchez, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, said in a speech posted from his official X account.
Central to the package, unveiled on Monday, is a royal decree law that will be approved by Spain’s cabinet and later ratified by parliament. The measure formalises what has been in effect since October 2023: a ban on the purchase and sale of weapons, ammunition and military equipment to Israel.
Spanish PM announces restrictions on Israeli shipping and aircraft
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says his government will increase pressure on Israel by banning Israel-bound ships and aircraft carrying weapons from calling at Spanish ports or entering Spanish airspace.
He said the Spanish government would increase aid to the Palestinian Authority and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and impose an embargo on goods made in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
“We hope that they will serve to add pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to alleviate some of the suffering that the Palestinian population is enduring,” Sanchez said in an address on local TV.
Spain will also ban anyone who has participated directly in what Sanchez called “genocide” from entering the country.
Israel imposes entry ban on senior Spanish officials over criticism of Gaza war
Israel has imposed entry bans and sanctions on two Spanish officials over their strong criticism of Israeli practices in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank.
“Israel will not maintain any ties with Deputy Prime Minister of Spain and Minister of Labor Yolanda Diaz,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said in a statement on X.
He said Diaz, a member of the Communist Party of Spain, will also be banned from entering Israel.
Diaz has been critical of Israel’s war in Gaza and violations of a ceasefire agreement with Lebanon, calling for imposing international sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel over its practices.
“Similar sanctions will also be imposed against Sira Rago, Minister for Youth and Children, from the same party. Entry into Israel will be prohibited, and Israel will not have any contact with it,” Saar said.
Rago also described Israel as a “genocidal state” over its military actions in Gaza and called on the European Union to cut all ties with Israel and impose sanctions.
Saar said further discussions regarding the bans on foreign officials will be conducted with Netanyahu.
Sanchez condemns Jerusalem shooting as Israel attacks Spanish government
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has strongly condemned the Jerusalem shooting attack, offering condolences to the Israeli people and the families of the victims, among whom was Spanish national Yaakov Pinto.
“Violence is not the way. We are convinced that peace in the Middle East is possible,” Sanchez wrote in a post on X.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar slammed the Spanish prime minister in a subsequent post, saying that at the same time Sanchez was “attacking” Israel, “Palestinian terrorists were attacking and murdering six Israelis, including Yaakov Pinto, a new immigrant from Spain”.
“Sanchez and his twisted ministers who justified the October 7 massacre have long chosen to align with Hamas and against Israel. Shameful!” Saar said.
This comes shortly after Israel accused Spain of anti-Semitism for refusing to arm or fund the genocide in Gaza, and imposed sanctions on two Spanish ministers.
