Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has labeled Israel a “genocidal state” in his most direct criticism yet of the country’s actions in Gaza. “We do not do business with a genocidal state, we do not,” Sánchez declared, prompting an immediate diplomatic response from Israel, which summoned the Spanish ambassador.
The controversial statement came during an exchange with Catalan member Gabriel Rufián, who had criticized the Socialist leader for maintaining trade relations with Israel despite the ongoing Gaza conflict. Responding to these allegations, Sánchez made his unprecedented remarks.
According to local media reports, this marks the first time Sánchez has publicly used the term “genocidal state” to describe Israel, representing a significant escalation in his rhetoric regarding the conflict.
The statement aligns with positions taken by Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, who has repeatedly accused Israel of genocide and called for freezing trade relations between Spain and Israel.
Israel’s decision to summon the Spanish ambassador signals growing diplomatic tensions between the two nations as international criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza continues to mount.
