Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced a series of nine measures aimed at stopping what he calls “the genocide in Gaza.” In a televised address, he outlined a range of actions, including an arms embargo on Israel and a ban on vessels carrying fuel for the Israeli military from using Spanish ports. These measures represent the latest escalation in Spain’s outspoken criticism of the Israeli offensive.
Key Measures and Broader Goals
The measures are designed to “stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators and support the Palestinian population.” Sanchez announced a decree to legally consolidate the ban on military equipment sales with Israel and stated that Spain would also act to limit the transport of military equipment by air. Furthermore, individuals involved in human rights violations and war crimes in Gaza will be banned from entering Spanish territory. The government will also ban the importation of products from “illegal settlements” in Palestinian territories and provide new humanitarian aid projects to support the Palestinian Authority.
A Leader in European Criticism
Sanchez has been one of the most vocal European critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza. His government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state last year had already strained relations with Israel. The article notes that the Israeli offensive has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians, while the initial Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, caused the deaths of 1,219 people.
