Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports competitions over its actions in Gaza.
Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image, he told elected representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party.
He said Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the Spanish prime minister a disgrace and accused him of inciting pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid, which caused the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, in which an Israeli team was competing.
Earlier in the day, Sánchez stated that previous protests during the race had shown that Spain shines as an example, with pride on the Gaza issue.
Several Spanish government ministers praised the final stage protest, which involved approximately 100,000 participants. Óscar López, the minister of digital transformation, remarked, It's a relief to me that thousands and thousands of people mobilise against that genocide, because it is genocide and it has no other name. Israel has regularly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, asserting that they are justified as a means of self-defence.
Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun also echoed Sánchez's sentiment, suggesting Israel should be excluded from the next Eurovision Song Contest, while highlighting previous calls from Sánchez on this matter. Public broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands have indicated they would refrain from participation if Israel is included due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The relationship between Israel and Spain has deteriorated since late 2023, following Sánchez's comments regarding civilian casualties in Gaza. The Spanish government subsequently recognized a Palestinian state, and Sánchez has accused Israel of genocide, implementing measures including an arms embargo. In response, Israel's Saar has labeled Sánchez's administration as antisemitic.
A recent poll revealed that 82% of Spaniards believe genocide is occurring in Gaza. The European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for suspending free trade and bilateral support with Israel, citing the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza, which have been characterized by some as man-made famine.
The conflict escalated after a Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, prompting a response from Israel that has resulted in substantial casualties, overwhelming reports claim that civilian lives have been severely impacted due to the ongoing military action.
