Madrid — Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday unveiled a sweeping package of nine measures aimed at halting what he called “the genocide in Gaza,” escalating Madrid’s increasingly vocal opposition to Israel’s war.
The measures include a formal arms embargo, a ban on vessels carrying fuel for the Israeli military from docking in Spanish ports, and entry restrictions on individuals accused of direct involvement in human rights violations or war crimes in Gaza.
“Our goal is clear: to stop the genocide, hold its perpetrators accountable, and stand with the Palestinian people,” Sánchez declared in a nationally televised address.
The government will move to enshrine in law its freeze on arms sales to Israel, in place since the conflict began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack. Air and maritime routes for transporting military supplies to Israel will also be curtailed.
In a symbolic yet practical move, Spain will prohibit the import of goods produced in Israeli settlements deemed illegal under international law, aiming to counter what Sánchez described as “forced displacement” of Palestinians and to reaffirm support for a two-state solution. Spanish consular services for its citizens living in such settlements will be reduced to “the legally obligatory minimum.”
Beyond sanctions, Sánchez announced expanded humanitarian assistance: new projects in agriculture, food security, and health for the Palestinian Authority, as well as additional emergency funding for Gaza.
Spain has already broken with many European allies by recognizing Palestinian statehood, drawing sharp condemnation from Israel. Sánchez, however, has positioned himself as Europe’s most senior leader to openly describe Israel’s offensive as genocide—a word many Western governments have avoided.
