Spain imposes full arms embargo on Israel
Photo: Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (Getty Images)
Spain is tightening its policy toward Israel. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a full arms embargo and unveiled a package of restrictive measures, according to AlJazeera.
According to the Spanish prime minister, this step is aimed at supporting the civilian population of Gaza and stopping mass casualties among civilians.
The key element of the announced initiatives is a royal decree formalizing the ban on arms trade with Israel, which has already been in effect since October 2023. The restrictions cover the sale and purchase of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment.
Additional measures include a ban on Israeli military fuel vessels docking in Spanish ports and the closure of Spanish airspace to aircraft involved in transporting defense materials.
The government also introduced personal sanctions against individuals who may be linked to war crimes and human rights violations in Gaza. These include entry bans, potentially affecting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his cabinet.
Sanchez stressed that there is a difference between defending a state and actions that lead to the deaths of civilians. He noted that tens of thousands of casualties and millions of displaced people are evidence not of self-defense, but of a deliberate destruction of a defenseless population.
In October, the defense ministers of Germany, France, and Spain will meet to discuss the possible revival of the joint FCAS project to develop a next-generation fighter jet.
Spain has also emphasized that Ukraine must participate in all negotiations concerning its territory and future development. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares warned against making concessions to Moscow
