On Monday, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled nine initiatives aimed at halting what he described as “genocide in Gaza,” including an arms embargo on Israel and restrictions on vessels transporting fuel for the Israeli military from docking at Spanish ports.
This announcement represents a significant escalation in Spain’s vocal opposition to the Israeli actions in Gaza following the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023.
These measures are designed to “end the genocide in Gaza, hold its perpetrators accountable, and aid the Palestinian people,” Sanchez stated during a televised address.
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He mentioned that his government, which leans to the left, plans to endorse a decree to “enshrine in law” the prohibition on the trade of military equipment with Israel, a policy in effect since the conflict began.
Vessels carrying fuel intended for the Israeli military will be prohibited from Spanish ports, and Spain will work to curtail the transportation of military equipment to Israel by air, according to Sanchez.
“Anyone directly involved in the genocide, human rights abuses, and war crimes in the Gaza Strip” will be denied entry into Spain, he asserted.
Spain will also prohibit the import of goods from “illegal settlements” in Palestinian territories to prevent “the forced displacement of the Palestinian population” and to support a two-state solution, Sanchez declared.
Consular services for Spanish citizens living in illegal Israeli settlements will be restricted “to the legally required minimum assistance,” he added.
Sanchez also announced new partnerships in agriculture, food security, and medical aid to support the Palestinian Authority, along with increased humanitarian aid for Palestinians.
Sanchez has been among the most vocal critics of Israel’s military actions in Gaza, becoming the highest-ranking European leader to label the conflict as a “genocide.”
His leftist government diverged from European allies last year by recognizing a Palestinian state, angering Israel.
The Israeli offensive has resulted in at least 64,368 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, led to 1,219 deaths, primarily civilians, based on an AFP tally of official figures.
