Spain Proposes an Arms Embargo on Israel to Stop War in Gaza
The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, speaks during a press conference on Thursday, at the headquarters of the Spanish embassy in Washington (USA). Photo: EFE/ Lenin Nolly
May 25, 2025 Hour: 12:22 pm
Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, called on Sunday for an “arms embargo” on Israel to put pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and stop the war in Gaza.
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Albares raised this proposal at the beginning of the summit of the Madrid Group, which this Sunday brings together in the capital of Spain several European and Arab countries that promote the two-state solution as a way to overcome this conflict in the Middle East.
Previously, the Spanish FM called for increased pressure on Israel to stop the attacks on Gaza and allow humanitarian aid into the Palestinian strip.
“We are clearly facing a humanitarian catastrophe and a very serious and daily violation of international humanitarian law,” said the head of Spanish diplomacy in an interview published on Saturday in the French newspaper Le Monde.
Albares pointed out that “the time for speeches is over” and that it is time to take action, so he called for an immediate suspension of the trade agreement between the European Union and Israel because “relations between them can only be based on human rights”.
He also said that it is open to direct sanctions against Israel, although it pointed out that Spain does not export weapons to Israel and does not allow arms trafficking through its territory to Israel, in addition to having stopped the purchase of ammunition.
In addition, this week, the Spain’s Congress of Deputies, approved an initiative to ban the purchase of arms from Israel, with a law that would allow the embargo on the arms trade to countries committing genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity, such as Israel.
The European Union and the United Kingdom also decided on Tuesday to increase pressure on Israel in view of the intensification of the Israeli offensive and the serious situation in the Gaza Strip.
The number of deaths from Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 53,000 since the beginning of Israel’s military offensive on 7 October 2023, according to the latest statement by the Gaza Ministry of Health.
In addition, there are more than 60,000 malnourished children, according to UNICEF, and dozens of “silent deaths” are occurring due to the shortage of food, medicine and drinking water; since Israel has been preventing entry from 2 March of any supply to a population of 2,1 million people.
The UN Security Council has repeatedly called for an “immediate” ceasefire and the International Court of Justice has called for action to prevent a possible genocide and alleviate the serious humanitarian situation in Gaza.
