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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Sunday unveiled a package of nine sanctions against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.
Speaking at the Moncloa Palace without taking questions, Sanchez declared: “What Israel is doing in Gaza is not defense, it is destroying a defenseless people.” He noted Spain lacks nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers or vast oil reserves, but said, “This does not mean we will stop trying to halt Israel.”
Citing U.N. figures, Sanchez said Israeli operations in Gaza and the West Bank over the past two years have killed more than 63,000 people, injured 15,900, displaced nearly 2 million — half of them minors — and left 250,000 facing hunger.
The first measure, Sanchez said, would be a formalized arms embargo through a royal decree banning all trade in weapons, ammunition and military equipment with Israel. He also announced a prohibition on ships carrying fuel for Israeli forces from passing through Spanish ports and a ban on flights transporting defense materials through Spanish airspace.
Additionally, individuals accused of participating in genocide, war crimes or rights violations in Gaza will be barred from entering Spain — a measure expected to apply to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all members of Israel’s government.
Other sanctions include banning imports from Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, limiting consular services for Spaniards living in such settlements, strengthening cooperation with the State of Palestine, and increasing Spain’s role in humanitarian projects, including the E.U. mission at the Rafah crossing.
Spain will also boost its contribution to UNRWA by €10 million ($11.72 million) and raise humanitarian aid for Gaza to €150 million.
Sanchez said the measures are expected to be approved at Monday’s Cabinet meeting and enter into effect immediately.
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