Spanish President Pedro Sánchez denounces the European Union’s hypocrisy for sanctioning Russia while ignoring Israel’s human rights violations in Gaza, calling for an immediate suspension of the EU-Israel association agreement.

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Spanish President Pedro Sánchez has openly criticized the European Union for its glaring double standard in addressing international conflicts. Speaking ahead of a crucial European Council meeting, Sánchez condemned the EU’s repeated sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine conflict while failing to take similar measures against Israel, which continues to violate Palestinian human rights in Gaza.

Sánchez highlighted the contradiction in the EU’s foreign policy, stating, “It makes no sense that we have imposed 18 sanction packages on Russia for its military operation in Ukraine, yet Europe refuses to suspend the association agreement with Israel despite clear violations of human rights.”

He referred to reports echoed by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, which suggest Israel is flagrantly breaching the human rights clauses embedded in the EU-Tel Aviv partnership.

The Spanish leader emphasized that Europe must act decisively: “It is evident that Israel is violating human rights, and I will defend at the European Council today that Europe must immediately suspend the association agreement with Israel.”

Spain’s criticism extends beyond diplomatic measures. On June 24, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares urged the EU to impose an arms embargo on Israel for the duration of its military offensive in Gaza.

Ante la violación constante de derechos humanos de Israel, Europa debe actuar.

Hoy defenderé en Bruselas que Europa suspenda inmediatamente el Acuerdo de Asociación con Israel. pic.twitter.com/iYLaAkS9Ag

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) June 26, 2025

The text reads: In the face of Israel’s constant human rights violations, Europe must act.
Today I will defend in Brussels that Europe immediately suspend the Association Agreement with Israel.

Albares reminded the bloc that the EU is Israel’s largest trading partner globally and insisted that “we must impose on our European partners an arms embargo, preventing any sale of weapons to Israel while this war continues.”

Left-wing analysts and human rights organizations have echoed Sánchez’s stance, denouncing the EU’s inaction as a moral collapse. They argue that Europe’s silence and failure to hold Israel accountable not only embolden Tel Aviv’s aggressive policies but also betray the principles of international law and human rights that the EU claims to uphold.

The EU has imposed massive and unprecedented sanctions against Russia in response to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

So far, 17 packages of sanctions have been adopted. The measures are designed to maximise pressure on Russia and to diminish Russia’s ability to wage war 👇

— EU Council (@EUCouncil) June 26, 2025

The Venezuelan government and allied progressive movements in Latin America have also condemned the EU’s hypocrisy, calling for solidarity with the Palestinian people and an end to all forms of complicity with Israeli aggression.

Pedro Sánchez’s outspoken criticism signals growing frustration within the EU’s progressive circles regarding the bloc’s inconsistent foreign policy. As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza worsens, voices like Sánchez’s demand that Europe abandon double standards and take concrete steps to defend human rights, including suspending agreements that enable Israeli violations and enforcing arms embargoes. The coming European Council meeting will be a critical test of whether Europe can align its policies with its proclaimed values of justice and human dignity.

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