Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a series of measures "to stop the genocide in Gaza," including an embargo on arms sales to Israel and a ban on ships carrying fuel for Israeli soldiers from entering Spanish ports.

The Spanish government, one of the most critical European voices regarding Israel's actions in Gaza, "has decided to take a new step and immediately implement nine additional measures to end the genocide in Gaza, prosecute its perpetrators, and support the Palestinian population," Pedro Sánchez announced.

"We know that all these measures will not be enough to stop the invasion and war crimes, but we hope that they will help put pressure on Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu and his government to alleviate some of the suffering experienced by the Palestinian people," the socialist leader continued, quoted by AFP.

Among the measures that will be implemented "immediately" is the approval of a law aimed at "legally strengthening the arms embargo on Israel, which we have already been applying de facto since October 2023," said Pedro Sánchez.

In addition, all ships carrying fuel for the Israeli armed forces will be banned from docking in Spanish ports, and aircraft carrying "military equipment for Israel" will be denied access to Spanish airspace, the prime minister added.

The measures also include a ban on entry into Spanish territory for persons "directly involved in genocide," a ban on products "from illegal settlements in Gaza and the West Bank," and restrictions on Spanish consular services for persons residing in those settlements.

Finally, Spain will increase its aid to the Palestinians and to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Pedro Sánchez added.

"This is not self-defense" nor "an attack, but the extermination of a defenseless people, a violation of all the laws of humanitarian law," the Spanish leader condemned.

The position of the Spanish government, in a country where pro-Palestinian demonstrations are often held, such as those that disrupted the Tour of Spain cycling race in recent days, has caused tension with Israel, which no longer has an ambassador in Madrid since the recognition of the state of Palestine by the government of Pedro Sánchez in May 2024. | BGNES