09.09.2025 17:16
Spain took action following Israel's imposition of sanctions on two Spanish ministers yesterday. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced that the entry of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich into the country has been banned. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has implemented a 9-point sanctions package against Israel.
Israel continues its attacks on the Gaza Strip, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the region, while the political conflict between Spain and Israel continues to grow. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced at a press conference that in response to Israel's imposition of sanctions on two Spanish ministers yesterday, they have banned the entry of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich into Spain.
SPAIN HAD DECIDED ON A WEAPONS EMBARGO
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated yesterday that comprehensive sanctions against Israel have been decided, announcing that a weapons embargo would be imposed on Israel "to end the genocide in Gaza and support the Palestinian people."
As part of the embargo decision, it was stated that Spain would not allow ships transporting fuel to the Israeli army to enter Spanish ports and that Spanish airspace would be closed to aircraft carrying defense industry products to Israel. Additionally, it was reported that the entry of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government, who are "directly connected to the genocide in Gaza, human rights abuses, and war crimes," would be banned from entering Spain. Sanchez indicated that the nine-item measures, including these applications, should be approved in today's council.
"THIS MEANS DESTROYING A DEFENSELESS PEOPLE"
Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said, "There is a big difference between defending your country and bombing hospitals and starving innocent children. This is an unacceptable attack against civilians. Two million displaced people, half of whom are children, and 60,000 dead. This is not self-defense; this is not even an attack. This means destroying a defenseless people. This is a violation of all the rules of humanitarian law."
SPAIN HAD RECALLED ITS AMBASSADOR TO TEL AVIV
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described Spain's sanction decisions as anti-Semitism and condemned the decisions, stating, "You are moving forward on an uncontrolled and hate-filled path against Israel." Following Saar's statement, Israel announced that the entry of two Spanish ministers into the country had been banned. In response to the decision, Spain recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv.
NINE SANCTIONS FROM SPAIN TO ISRAEL HAVE COME INTO EFFECT
The sanctions against Israel announced yesterday by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez were approved in today's Cabinet meeting.
The nine-item sanctions that the Spanish government has taken against Israel under the title "Measures against the genocide in Gaza and support for the Palestinian people" are as follows:
- Legal reinforcement of the arms embargo imposed on Israel since October 2023 and the legal and permanent prohibition of the sale and purchase of arms, ammunition, and military equipment to this country.
- Prohibition of the passage of all ships carrying fuel to the Israeli army from Spanish ports.
- Prohibition of the entry of all official aircraft carrying defense materials to Israel into Spanish airspace.
- Prohibition of the entry of all individuals directly involved in genocide, human rights violations, and war crimes in Gaza into Spanish territory.
- Prohibition of the import of products from illegal settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, combating these occupations, halting the forced displacement of Palestinian civilians, and keeping the two-state solution alive.
- Limiting consular services provided to Spanish citizens residing in illegal Israeli settlements to the minimum services legally required.
- Strengthening Spain's support for Palestine by increasing the number of Spanish soldiers in the European Union Border Assistance Mission at the Rafah Border Crossing and establishing new cooperation projects in agriculture, food security, and medical aid with the State of Palestine.
- Increasing Spain's contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) by 10 million euros to assist the people of Gaza.
- Increasing humanitarian aid and cooperation for Gaza to 150 million euros by 2026.