In a seismic address to the Spanish parliament, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez launched a scorching critique of Israel's military offensive in Gaza, employing language rarely heard from a Western European leader. He starkly accused the Israeli government of engaging in the 'extermination of defenceless people', a charge that has dramatically intensified the diplomatic rift between the two nations.
The Prime Minister's powerful rhetoric underscores a profound shift in Madrid's foreign policy, moving from diplomatic concern to outright condemnation. Sánchez demanded an 'immediate and permanent ceasefire' and issued a direct call for the European Union to halt all arms exports to Israel, framing the conflict as a clear-cut humanitarian catastrophe.
Israeli Backlash and Spanish Resolve
The response from Jerusalem was swift and severe. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz labelled Sánchez's comments as 'shameful and disgusting', accusing him of aligning with Hamas and fuelling antisemitism. Despite this fierce backlash, the Spanish government has shown no signs of retracting its position.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reinforced his leader's stance, confirming that Spain would unilaterally suspend all arms exports to Israel from August onwards if a broader EU agreement could not be reached. This firm position places Spain at the vanguard of a more critical European approach to the conflict.
A Coalition United in Condemnation
The strong language from Sánchez is seen as a move to consolidate his left-wing coalition government, which includes the more radically critical Sumar party. Its leader, Deputy PM Yolanda Díaz, went even further, publicly advocating for Spain to lead a movement within the EU to impose sanctions on Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
This internal political dynamic is shaping Spain's robust external posture, creating a unified front that is willing to withstand international pressure and diplomatic fallout in its condemnation of the ongoing violence in Gaza, where the death toll continues to climb.
