Israel bans Spanish ministers as Madrid condemns Gaza offensive
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Madrid: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday sharply criticised Israel’s military actions in Gaza, prompting Israel to ban two left-wing Spanish ministers from entering the country.
Sánchez made the remarks while announcing a series of measures his government plans to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now ongoing for 23 months amid the Israel-Hamas war.
“This is not self-defence, it’s not even an attack — it’s the extermination of a defenceless people. It is a violation of all humanitarian laws, and despite that, the international community is failing to stop this tragedy,” Sánchez said.
Among the measures, Spain will formalise an arms embargo, which has been de facto in effect since October 2023, ban ships carrying fuel for Israel’s armed forces from passing through Spanish ports, and increase humanitarian aid for Gaza in 2026 to 150 million euros (USD 176 million). These measures require parliamentary approval.
Other steps include boosting aid to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and imposing an embargo on goods produced in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. Sánchez also stated that anyone directly participating in what he described as the “genocide” in Gaza would be barred from entering Spanish territory.
“We know that all these measures will not be enough to stop the invasion or the war crimes, but we hope they will add pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government to alleviate some of the suffering that the Palestinian population is enduring,” Sánchez added.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Sánchez of using the Gaza conflict to distract from corruption scandals affecting Spain’s Socialist Party and described the Spanish government’s actions as “antisemitic.” Saar announced that Spain’s Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego, both from the left-wing coalition partner Sumar, are banned from entering Israel due to statements calling Israel a “genocidal state” and their support for sanctions or boycotts against Israel.
Spain has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 hostages on October 7, 2023. Israel’s offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not specify the number of civilians or combatants.
Last year, Spain joined Norway and Ireland in formally recognising a Palestinian state and was the first European country to seek UN court permission to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza.
Saar downplayed the impact of Spain’s measures on Israel, stating, “If they want to hold or halt defence connections with Israel, who do you think will lose from that? We don’t need Spain to protect the land of Israel.”
With PTI inputs
