Spanish parliament green lights arms embargo on Israel

Spain has been known as one of the key members of the international community to have criticised Israel’s genocide on Gaza, and the Spanish government, seems to have signified the country’s stance through the approval of an arms embargo against Israel, according to the Middle East Eye via AFP.

The decree was introduced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in September, and the parliament approved it with a divide of votes at 178-169. The result does not represent a large majority which indicates that a considerable number of the house’s members were against this bill or did not agree with some of its elements.

MPs of the Spanish left-wing party, Podemos, criticised the bill for not going far enough yet, they eventually voted in tandem with the Prime Minister’s leftist coalition to pass the decree.

The law’s preamble recognises Israel’s war on Gaza as a genocide by citing opinions from experts and the indiscriminate attacks on the Palestinian population of the enclave.

The Spanish Prime Minister unveiled nine measures against Israel on September 8th, including entry bans on Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich who have been sanctioned by the UK, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Norway.

The law also prohibited the advertisement of goods “coming from illegal colonies in Gaza and the West Bank”, which reinforces the country’s commitment to sanction settlers in the West Bank.

Spain’s leader had signalled that European countries were ready to recognise a Palestinian state in 2024, pushing for a two-state solution to try to resolve the conflict. Since then, multiple countries in Europe have recognised a Palestinian state, which has deeply angered Israel.

Sanchez previously advocated for the EU to review its ties with Israel under the suspicion that the country was committing war crimes in its assault against the Palestinian territory. He even criticised the international community, especially the major powers who have stayed silent, accusing them of “indifference” and “complicity” with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister.

Middle East Eye via AFP, Maghrebi.org