On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced a permanent ban on the sale of weapons and ammunition to Israel, as part of a package of measures aimed at “stopping genocide” in the Gaza Strip.
Banning ships and military aircraft
Sanchez added that the ships carrying fuel dedicated to the Israeli armed forces will not be allowed to dock in the Spanish ports, and the aircraft known by the transportation of military materials will be prevented from entering the airspace to Spain.
Self -defense does not mean extermination
Sanchez stressed that Israel has the right to exist and defend itself, but he stressed that it does not have the right to “exterminate a defenseless people”, citing the failure of the international community to protect tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza.
He said: “Protecting your country and your community is something; shelling hospitals and starving children is another thing,” stressing Spain’s responsibility to do everything that can stop what the United Nations Special Rapporteur and many experts consider “genocide.”
Procedures against participants in violations
The package includes a ban on the entry of any person “who participated directly in genocide, human rights violations or war crimes in the Gaza Strip” to Spain, without Sanchez clarifying the mechanism of assessing participation or identifying these people.
Restrictions on consular services and import
The procedures also include new restrictions on the consular services provided to the Spanish citizens residing in the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, in addition to a full ban on the products imported from the occupied territories.
Sanchez’s position and Palestinian support
Sanchez has always been one of the most critical of the European Union of the Israeli military attack on Gaza, and last year confessed to the State of Palestine.
Israeli reactions
The leader of the “Somar” party and Deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Diaz, welcomed the adoption of these measures, but called on Sanchez to go further and withdraw the Spanish ambassador from Tel Aviv.
On the other hand, Israeli Foreign Minister Guidion Sahaer accused the Spanish government of “anti -Semitism” and following a “anti -Israel line” to distract attention from dangerous corruption scandals, and Diaz and Youth Minister Sira Reago, a Palestinian refugee daughter, prevented the entry of Israel, under the pretext of “supporting terrorism and violence against the Israelis.”
