International-News

Spain, Sanchez announces nine measures against Israel

Arms embargo, port closures and entry bans for those involved in Gaza

Spain strengthens its support for the Palestinian cause. After recognising the State of Palestine and supporting the Global Sumud Flotilla, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Monday 8 September from Moncloa a package of nine extraordinary measures to, in his words, “put an end to the genocide in Gaza, prosecute those responsible and support the Palestinian people”.

The new measures

Among the most significant measures are a total embargo on arms sales to Israel and a ban on ships carrying fuel for the Israeli armed forces from docking in Spanish ports. Madrid has also ordered a halt to the overflight of its airspace by all aircraft bound for Israel with war material on board.

Another point concerns the ban on entry into Spain for people “directly involved in genocide and war crimes in Gaza”. The government has also banned the import of products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, minimising consular assistance to Spanish citizens residing in these areas.

Support for the Palestinians

On the humanitarian front, Madrid will increase aid to the Palestinian National Authority and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) by an additional €10 million. The goal is to reach €150 million in aid to Gaza by 2026. Spain’s presence in the European mission in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, has also been strengthened.

Sanchez’s words

‘Protecting your country is one thing, but bombing hospitals and killing innocent children by starving them is another,’ said Sanchez, who accused Israel of turning the military operation launched in October 2023 into a ‘new wave of illegal occupations and unjustified attacks against civilians’, defined as genocide by UN experts and rapporteurs. The prime minister urged the international community not to remain ‘paralysed between indifference and complicity’.

Israel’s reaction

Tel Aviv’s response was immediate: Israel banned two Sumar ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz and Youth Policy Minister Sira Rego, from entering the country. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Sanchez of waging an ‘anti-Semitic’ campaign to divert public attention from internal corruption scandals.

Madrid responded firmly, rejecting the accusations as ‘false and defamatory’ and reiterating that Spain ‘will not be intimidated in its defence of peace, international law and human rights’.

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