Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports competitions over its actions in Gaza.
Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image, he told elected representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party.
He said Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called Sánchez a disgrace, accusing him of inciting pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid that resulted in the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, in which an Israeli team was competing.
Earlier, Sánchez had praised Spain's demonstrations against Gaza violence, asserting that the nation exemplifies pride in standing against humanitarian abuses.
Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has also voiced that Israel should be barred from the Eurovision Song Contest, aligning with Sánchez's previous statements on the matter.
The ongoing conflict has dramatically strained the relationship between Spain and Israel, particularly following Sánchez’s public criticism and international acknowledgment of Palestine as a state.
As the situation escalates, numerous Spaniards, including government officials, have openly supported protests, with public sentiment largely viewing Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocidal. Recent polls indicate that a significant majority of the Spanish populace feels strongly against the violence unfolding in Gaza.
