Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has proposed that Israel be barred from participating in international sports events due to its actions in Gaza. He emphasized the need to prevent Israel from using global platforms to “whitewash” its image and drew a parallel between Israel’s situation and that of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized Sánchez, labeling him a “disgrace” and accusing him of inciting protests in Madrid, which led to the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race that included an Israeli team. Prior to this, Sánchez noted that public demonstrations during the race showcased Spain as a proud supporter of the Gaza cause. The protests in Madrid attracted about 100,000 participants, drawing praise from several Spanish government ministers, who expressed their solidarity with the Palestinian situation.
Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun reiterated previous calls for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest, echoed by Sánchez earlier in the year. Public broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands have signaled they will not participate if Israel is included, citing humanitarian concerns stemming from the situation in Gaza.
The relationship between Spain and Israel has been strained since the latter half of 2023, when Sánchez raised concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza. In early 2024, Spain, alongside Norway and Ireland, recognized Palestinian statehood, further escalating tensions. Recently, Sánchez accused Israel of genocide and introduced several measures, including an arms embargo. Sard criticized this rhetoric as antisemitic.
Public sentiment in Spain appears to support concerns about Gaza, with a recent poll indicating that at least 82% of participants believe genocide is occurring there. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has called for a reassessment of trade relations with Israel in light of the humanitarian crisis, referring to what she described as a “man-made famine” in Gaza.
Israel has consistently rejected allegations of famine, attributing any food shortages to the actions of aid agencies and Hamas. It maintains control over Gaza’s borders and has accused international bodies of not adequately delivering aid. A UN-backed report confirmed that famine conditions exist in some areas of Gaza, with Israel being held accountable due to its role as the occupying power. Since the escalation of conflict following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the humanitarian toll in Gaza has been significant, with reports estimating over 64,000 deaths resulting from Israeli airstrikes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20e1m7vd2no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss