Spain bans Israeli weapons sales – and far right genociders Ben-Gvir and Smotrich

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has announced an arms embargo on Israel as part of a package of measures aimed at “stopping the genocide in Gaza” and “supporting the Palestinian population”. The move, which needs to be ratified by Spain’s parliament before taking effect, is a lesson to the UK and EU, which refuse to fulfil their obligations under international law – or even to acknowledge that Israel is committing genocide.

Spain: taking action against Israel

Spain has also banned two of Israel’s most senior fascist ministers from entering any of its territory, after Israel put sanctions on Spanish officials, Spanish Deputy PM and Minister of Labour Yolanda Diaz and Youth and Children’s Minister Sira Rago, because it took exception to their condemnation of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its oppression and murder in the West Bank.

Announcing the ban, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich – Smotrich has proudly declared himself a fascist (and homophobe) – are now on Spain’s list of sanctioned individuals because both are directly involved in promoting Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

Spain has outraged Israel by recognising Palestinian statehood last year and stating that it will not tolerate the Trump-Netanyahu ethnic cleansing plan.

In the UK, by contrast, the Starmer government continues to welcome Israeli officials involved in the genocide, including Israeli president and accused war criminal Isaac Herzog this week.

Featured image via the Canary