Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged for Israel’s exclusion from international sports due to the Gaza conflict, while his government also canceled a substantial $825 million military deal with Israel.
Sanchez praised the thousands of protesters who halted the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana, a major cycling event, in Spain on Sunday.
He compared Israel’s situation to Russia’s exclusion over its Ukraine invasion, angering Israel and Spanish conservatives.
Stay informed with the latest updates. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
“Our stance is unequivocal: as long as the atrocities persist, neither Russia nor Israel should partake in international competitions,” stated Sanchez.
The Spanish leader has emerged as a strong critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza, where the UN warns of a looming humanitarian crisis.
Sanchez questioned, “Should sports organizations allow Israel to compete globally?”
He further asked, “Why was Russia banned after attacking Ukraine, yet Israel faces no such action after its invasion of Gaza?”
An official document reviewed by AFP revealed that Spain had canceled a nearly 700 million euro ($825 million) contract for Israeli-made rocket launchers.
Recently, Sanchez’s administration introduced measures to halt what it termed the “genocide in Gaza”.
‘Shame for Spain’
Approximately 100,000 protesters gathered for Sunday’s Vuelta finale, which was cut short 60 kilometers from the finish in central Madrid, with some confrontations with police.
Protesters criticized the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech team, owned by Israeli-Canadian developer Sylvan Adams.
On Sunday, barriers were pushed over by protesters who occupied the cyclists’ route. Police initially intervened but eventually allowed peaceful occupation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Sanchez of “inciting public protests”, labeling his government a “disgrace to Spain”.
His remarks were echoed by Spain’s conservative Popular Party (PP).
“The government facilitated the disruption of the Vuelta, causing an international embarrassment broadcast globally,” wrote PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo on X.
Spain’s Federation of Jewish Communities (FCJE) condemned the protests’ violence and the growing hostility towards Spain’s Jewish population.
Tour de France concerns
Javier Guillen, director of the Vuelta, stated on Monday that the disruptions were “wholly unacceptable and tarnished Spain’s image” and should not recur.
The global cycling authority, UCI, expressed regret over Spain’s endorsement of the protests, which “could jeopardize Spain’s capability to host major international sports events”.
The incidents have cast doubt on the 2026 Tour de France, planned to start in Barcelona.
Guillen remarked, “It’s clear that since this Vuelta, international bodies will need to make decisions.”
“I hope the issues are resolved by the Tour de France and the Gaza conflict ends, for both sports and humanitarian reasons,” he added.
Military contract voided
The conflict began with Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, which resulted in 1,219 casualties, mostly civilians, according to AFP’s count from official sources.
Israel’s counteroffensive in Gaza has claimed at least 64,905 lives, predominantly civilians, according to health ministry figures deemed reliable by the UN.
Spain’s recent measures on Gaza include a ban on military equipment deals with Israel.
The voided arms contract announced involved a Spanish consortium purchasing 12 SILAM rocket launchers based on the PULS platform by Israeli Elbit Systems, as per the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Military Balance.
Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun suggested Spain should boycott the Eurovision Song Contest next year if Israel participates, aligning with other European nations threatening withdrawal.
