Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel’s athletes to be banned from international sporting events over the dramatic situation in Gaza, where the famine is raging, the BBC reports.
Sánchez told his party that Israel should not be allowed to use sporting events and competitions to boost its image. The prime minister said Israel should be treated the same way as Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called Sánchez a disgrace on the 14th of September and accused Spain of inciting protests in support of Palestine in Madrid. The final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, in which the Israeli team also participated, was cancelled.
Sánchez had expressed support for previous protests and said Spain was setting an example on Gaza issue. Several Spanish government ministers have also praised the protests that took place on the day of the final, which according to official statistics was attended by around 100,000 people. Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López said
he was relieved that thousands of people were able to mobilize against genocide,
because there is no other way to describe what is happening in Gaza. Israel has consistently denied committing genocide in Gaza, and has justified all actions as self-defense.
Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has said that Israel should not participate in Eurovision.
Irish and Dutch public broadcasters have already announced that they will not participate in the song contest if Israel is among the participants.
Israeli-Spanish relations have been fragile since late 2023, when Sánchez expressed concern about the situation of civilians in Gaza. In 2024, Spain joined Norway and Ireland in recognizing Palestinian statehood. Last week, Sánchez accused Israel of committing genocide and announced a series of restrictions that Spain has adopted towards Israel.
A recent poll showed that at least 82% of Spaniards believe that genocide is being committed in Gaza.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the end of free trade with Israel, as well as the suspension of bilateral aid, and pointed to a deliberately created famine. She also condemned Europe’s failure to adequately respond to Israeli crimes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied that there is a famine in Gaza, saying that even if there is a food shortage somewhere, it is because of aid agencies and the militant group Hamas. Israel controls all of Gaza’s border crossings. As the occupying power, it has an international obligation to protect civilians, including by preventing food shortages, but this is not being done.
Read also: Experts: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza