Spain announces arms embargo on Israel and entry ban on 'genocide promoters'

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a decree-law on Monday morning to enforce an arms embargo on Israeli weapons, making official a prohibition that has been in place since October 2023.

The decree will "legally bind" the embargo on trading weapons, bullets, and military equipment with Israel. This is one of nine measures announced by the PM, which also include a ban on entering Spain for those who are directly taking part in the genocide, violation of human rights, and war crimes in Gaza. 

The measures will "immediately" come into force to help "stop a genocide in Gaza, prosecute its promoters, and show support to Palestinians," Sánchez said during an institutional speech at La Moncloa, the Spanish government headquarters in Madrid.

"One thing is to protect someone's country, and another thing is to bomb hospitals and starve children to death," he added.

Sánchez said that the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu is responsible for a "new wave of occupations and an unjustifiable attack on Palestinians," which the UN rapporteur has qualified as "genocide." There have been 63,000 deaths, 159,000 people injured, 250,000 people facing famine, and almost two million displaced.

"This is not self-defense, it is not only attacking, it is exterminating a defenseless society and violating fundamental human rights," Sánchez said.

Nine measures

Aside from issuing a decree, an embargo on buying and selling weapons to and from Israel, there will also be a ban on cargo vessels transporting fuel for Israeli forces from transiting Spanish ports.

Sánchez also announced a prohibition on Spanish airspace to all planes carrying defense material for Israel, and an entry ban on people who directly take part in the genocide, the violation of human rights, and the war crimes in Gaza.

Spain will also ban the import of products from illegal Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank, and reduce to a minimum consular services to Spaniards residing in those settlements.

Among the measures announced, there is also an increase in support to the Palestinian authorities with more people on the border aid operation, and setting up new collaboration projects, in areas such as agriculture, food security, and medical assistance.

Spanish authorities will approve an increase of €10 million in support to UNRWA and €150 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza by next year.

"We are aware that all these measures are not enough to stop war crimes, but we hope that these will pressure Netanyahu and his government and reduce pressure and suffering for Palestinians," Sánchez said on Monday.

Spain recognized the State of Palestine in May 2024. In an interview with the UK media outlet, The Guardian, Sánchez criticized the double standards and inaction from Europe on the Gaza-Israel conflict.

Israel bans Spanish vice president

On Monday morning, Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar announced on social media that the government has banned Spanish vice president Yolanda Díaz and youth minister Sira Rego from entering the country.

Saar accused the politicians of crossing "red lines" in their defense of Palestine.

Díaz said that she is "proud" to have been banned, and "will continue fighting" for Palestinians' rights.