Spain moves to pressure Israel with sweeping Gaza measures

English , International - بین الاقوامی , Snippets , / Monday, September 8th, 2025

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Source: Anadolu Agency
Oviedo, Spain — September 8, 2025
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a package of nine measures aimed at halting what he described as the “genocide in Gaza,” signaling one of the strongest positions taken by a European leader on the conflict.
In a televised address, Sánchez declared: “What Israel is doing is not defending itself, it is exterminating a defenseless population.”
He confirmed that Spain, which has already suspended arms exports to Israel since 2023, will now legislate a permanent weapons export ban. Madrid will also bar ships carrying fuel for Israeli forces from using Spanish ports and prohibit defense-related aircraft from crossing Spanish airspace.
In addition, Spain will ban entry to individuals linked to human rights violations, war crimes, and atrocities in Gaza. Imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza will be prohibited, while Spanish consular services in occupied territories will be restricted to citizens only.
Sánchez also outlined humanitarian initiatives. Spain will expand its presence in Rafah, deploying additional personnel and launching joint projects with the Palestinian Authority to provide food and medicine. The government pledged an extra €10 million ($11.7 million) to UNRWA and committed €150 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza in 2026.
Sánchez acknowledged Spain’s limitations but underlined the importance of action: “Spain alone cannot stop the war, but that doesn’t mean we can’t try. These measures are meant to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and help ease the suffering of the Palestinian people.”