Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has criticized the EU for its double standard in addressing the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. While the bloc has imposed extensive sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine, Sanchez asserts that the EU has not taken comparable actions against Israel, whose military operations in Gaza have led to a tragic humanitarian crisis. The Spanish government’s stance on this issue has triggered a diplomatic response from Israel, which has condemned Sanchez’s remarks.
The Israeli Embassy in Madrid condemned Sanchez’s remarks as ‘morally indefensible’ and accused him of ‘launching an anti-Israel crusade.’ The embassy stated that Israel, a democratic country facing existential threats on multiple fronts, has both the right and the duty to defend its citizens. In response, the Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli envoy over the embassy’s ‘unacceptable’ comments.
Israel launched its operation in Gaza following a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, in which Hamas and allied Palestinian groups killed around 1,200 people and took more than 200 hostages. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) resumed their offensive in the Palestinian enclave after a ceasefire collapsed in March.