• Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announces nine measures to stop 'genocide in Gaza.'
• Measures include a permanent arms embargo and bans on imports from illegal settlements.
• Israel accuses Spain of antisemitism and imposes entry bans on two Spanish ministers.
• Spain recalls its ambassador to Tel Aviv in response to Israeli allegations.
• Sanchez emphasizes Spain's commitment to human rights in the context of the Gaza conflict.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez unveiled a series of nine measures aimed at stopping what he described as the “genocide in Gaza.” In a televised address, he asserted that "what Israel is doing is not defending itself; it is exterminating a defenseless population." This initiative reflects Spain's strong stance against the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and aims to apply pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to mitigate the suffering of the Palestinian people, according to AA and TRT Global.

The announced measures include a permanent ban on the sale and export of weapons to Israel, a move which Sanchez described as formalizing existing restrictions that had been in effect since October 2023. Additionally, Spain will prohibit ships transporting fuel to Israeli forces from docking at Spanish ports and will deny entry to military aircraft bound for Israel. The Spanish government also intends to enhance its humanitarian efforts in Gaza, pledging an increase in contributions to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), according to Middle East Eye and South China Morning Post.

Following the announcement, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Spain of anti-Semitism, claiming that these measures were a diversion from domestic corruption issues and responding with an entry ban for two Spanish ministers, Yolanda Diaz and Sira Rego. The Spanish Foreign Ministry referred to these accusations as “false and slanderous” and emphasized its commitment to uphold peace, human rights, and international law. In light of these developments, Spain recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv for consultations, asserting that the measures reflect the majority opinion within Spanish society, according to TRT Global and India Times.

As tensions escalate, Sanchez reiterated the necessity of distinguishing between legitimate self-defense and actions that amount to violations of humanitarian law, criticizing Israel’s operations in Gaza. He identified the situation as a significant humanitarian crisis involving a high number of civilian casualties and emphasized that while Spain alone cannot resolve the conflict, it will continue to advocate for peace and support for the Palestinian people, according to Middle East Eye and AA.