On September 8, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez voiced his frustration, and that of his country, with Israel’s ongoing war of extermination in the Gaza Strip.
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Sánchez said that Madrid does not possess nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers, or vast oil reserves, and therefore cannot single-handedly stop Israel’s assault on Gaza. “But that does not mean we should stop trying,” he added, noting that there are causes worth fighting for, even if victory cannot be achieved alone.
His remarks sparked wide reactions, particularly in Israel, where officials deliberately distorted his words and accused him of threatening the annihilation of the Jewish state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded: “Apparently, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of Spain’s Jews, and the Nazi Holocaust were not enough for Sánchez.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also lashed out at Spain, alleging a lack of historical awareness regarding what he described as “Spain’s crimes against the Jewish people, including the crimes of the Inquisition.”
This round of rhetorical battles between Spain and Israel highlights the extent of the discomfort caused by Sánchez and his government. He is arguably the most senior European leader openly and forcefully criticizing Israel.
After all, Sánchez is not merely a prominent activist, media figure, or leader of a small European state. He is the prime minister of one of Europe’s most important countries. Under his leadership, Spain was ranked last year as the best-performing economy among the 37 richest nations—based on GDP growth, stock market performance, core inflation, unemployment, and government deficit levels—according to The Economist.
This means that one of the strongest anti-Israel voices in Europe—seeking to steer EU policies toward greater fairness for Palestinians—comes from a leader with proven success at home. His influence may well extend beyond Spain, making him one of the few official voices countering Europe’s broader shift toward the far right.
The article then delves into:
Pedro Sánchez’s political career and leadership style, highlighting his resilience, unexpected political victories, and his rise from relative obscurity to party leader and prime minister.
His domestic achievements, including raising the minimum wage, appointing Spain’s first women-dominated cabinet, welcoming migrants, and overseeing one of Europe’s best economic recoveries.
His foreign policy approach, based on principles and global ethics rather than narrow Western alignment. His defiance of Donald Trump’s trade and defense demands is presented as a key to understanding his equally confrontational stance toward Israel.
Spain’s historical legacy with Palestine, including close ties with the PLO since the 1970s, hosting Yasser Arafat, and voting for Palestine’s UN observer status in 2012. This tradition, combined with overwhelming public support—82% of Spaniards describe Israel’s war in Gaza as “genocide”—frames Sánchez’s position as consistent with national sentiment.
Concrete Spanish measures against Israel, such as recognizing Palestine in May 2024, supporting South Africa’s ICJ case, banning arms sales to Israel, canceling multimillion-euro defense contracts, blocking arms shipments through Spanish ports and airspace, banning entry to Israeli officials implicated in war crimes, and increasing aid to Gaza and UNRWA.
Domestic political pressures, with Sánchez’s Socialist Party (PSOE) reliant on leftist coalition partners like Sumar, Podemos, and regional separatist parties, all of which demand stronger support for Palestine. Meanwhile, right-wing parties (PP and Vox) accuse him of embarrassing Spain internationally with his stance.
The article concludes that Sánchez has become the loudest Western voice opposing Israel’s war, not only through rhetoric but also by implementing real measures within Spain’s capacity as a mid-sized power. His position reflects historical, ideological, and popular currents in Spain, even if structural and geopolitical limits constrain the extent of his actions.
