Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has intensified his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, accusing Benjamin Netanyahu's government of “exterminating a defenceless people” through bombing hospitals and causing starvation among children. Speaking on Monday, Sánchez announced a series of measures aimed at increasing pressure on Israel to end its military campaign.
Sánchez stated that while Spain supports Israel's right to exist and defend itself, it felt compelled to “stop a massacre”. He argued that what began as a military response to terrorist attacks in October 2023 has become “a new wave of illegal occupations and an unjustifiable attack against the Palestinian civilian population”, which he said many experts describe as genocide.
The Spanish leader pointed to the high numbers of dead, injured, displaced and malnourished in Gaza, asserting that Israel's actions go beyond self-defence and violate humanitarian law. Among the measures announced were a formal ban on military equipment sales to Israel, a prohibition on Spanish ports and airspace for transporting fuel or weapons to the Israeli military, and a ban on entry into Spain for those “directly involved in the genocide”. Sánchez also pledged increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Israeli government responded angrily, accusing Sánchez of deploying “wild and hateful rhetoric” and launching an “anti-Israel and antisemitic attack”. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar announced bans on two senior Spanish politicians—Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego—from entering Israel due to their criticisms. Spain's foreign ministry described the Israeli statements as “false and slanderous” and recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
