‘Notable Contribution’: Hamas Praises Spanish Sanctions Against Israel

Latest Developments

Hamas Welcomes Spanish Move: Urging other countries to follow Spain’s example, Hamas on September 8 praised Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s announcement of a permanent ban on the sale of arms and ammunition to Israel. Hamas described the Spanish government’s ban as a “notable contribution to international efforts.” Sanchez stated that the measures were intended to “stop the genocide in Gaza” and that Israel’s actions in the coastal enclave were not self-defense but the “extermination of a defenseless people.”
Spanish Prime Minister Announces Arms Ban on Israel: Diplomatic relations between Israel and Spain reached a new low following Sanchez’s statement, with the Spanish leader clarifying that under the measures, ships carrying fuel for use by Israel’s armed forces would not be permitted to dock in Spanish ports, and aircraft carrying military equipment to Israel would be banned from Spanish airspace. Sanchez also announced a partial ban on imports from Israel and a ban on the entry of anyone who participated in what Sanchez called the “genocide” of Palestinians. He also promised to increase aid to Gaza, UNRWA, and the Palestinian Authority. On the same day as Sanchez’s announcement, Spanish national Yaakov Pinto was killed in a Palestinian terrorist attack in Jerusalem.
Spain’s Actions Have ‘Antisemitic Undertones’: Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced Sanchez’s actions as having “antisemitic undertones. After Jerusalem announced personal sanctions against Spanish cabinet members Yolanda Diaz, who serves as deputy prime minister, and Sira Rego, who serves as youth and children minister, Spain recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and announced a ban on the entry of Israeli cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

FDD Expert Response

“Spain has long been a financial liability for the European Union, annually extracting 2 billion euros more than it pays into the bloc’s budget. By sanctioning Israel in an act of solidarity with the murderers and rapists of Hamas, Spain has now become a political liability too. These discriminatory moves against Israel cannot go unanswered — not in Jerusalem, not in Brussels, and not in Washington.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Director

“Whether due to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez believing Hamas propaganda or the cynical politics of distraction, the Spanish prime minister is doing long-term damage to his relations with Israel. As his party slips in the polls, Sanchez seems to be using the well-worn method of shifting attention away from his failures and onto the Jewish state. And with a Spanish deputy prime minister having employed the “from the river to the sea” call for eliminating Israel, Sanchez should be apologizing, not increasing his swipes at the Jewish state.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst