Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu announced Spain will no longer participate in monitoring the Gaza ceasefire due to what he calls “anti-Israel obsession” from Madrid.
Israel Excludes Spain from Ceasefire Monitoring
Israel has decided to exclude Spain from monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza, citing “anti-Israel obsession” from the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the resulting damage to Israeli – and American – interests, including regarding a potential conflict with Iran.
The United States was reportedly informed of this decision.
Netanyahu Condemns Spanish “Hostility”
Prime Minister Netanyahu accused Spain of “hostility” towards Israel, stating Israel will not remain silent in the face of attacks and that Spain has “slandered” Israeli soldiers.
Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated the Spanish government’s “anti-Israel bias” disqualifies it from participating in the implementation of President Trump’s peace plan and the CMCC operating within it.
Spain Reopens Tehran Embassy, Criticizes Israeli Actions
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced the reopening of Spain’s embassy in Tehran, which had been closed following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
Albares also asserted that Israel violated the ceasefire agreement brokered by the US and Iran, and that Wednesday’s attacks on Lebanon constituted a breach of international law.
Sanchez’s Criticism of Trump’s Iran Policy
Prime Minister Sanchez has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s policies towards Iran since the beginning of the conflict in the Middle East.
While most European leaders reacted with cautious optimism to news of a ceasefire between the US and Iran, Sanchez stated his government “will not praise those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.”
Background: Gaza Conflict and Hamas Attack
The Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip began following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 250 people taken hostage.
Over 46,000 people have been killed as a result of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
