• Spain's government has approved a "total" arms embargo on Israel due to the Gaza conflict.
• The embargo includes bans on arms exports, fuel transit, and imports from Israeli settlements.
• This measure aims to halt what Spain's Prime Minister called "the genocide in Gaza."

Spain's Council of Ministers approved a "total" arms embargo on Israel as part of a strategic response to the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo labelled the decision as “further evidence of the political commitment of the government and the international leadership of Spain” in advocating for human rights, according to AA and TRT.

The decree prohibits all exports to Israel of defence materials and dual-use products, effectively blocking fuel transit and imports from Israeli settlements. “This decree is a big step forward and is pioneering at the international level,” Cuerpo stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation, according to SCMP and The Local.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who characterized the situation in Gaza as “genocide,” announced the arms embargo and other measures aimed at halting the conflict. He has been vocal in criticizing the violence unfolding since the October 7 attacks by Hamas, portraying the events as among "the darkest and most terrible" in modern history, according to SCMP and The Local.

The embargo comes after Spain had established partial restrictions earlier, solidifying its position as the first country fully banning arms exports to Israel. Nevertheless, opposition parties, such as the People's Party, have expressed concerns regarding national security implications and the effects of the embargo on Spanish military ties to Israel, according to AA and TRT.