Spain blocks weapons shipments to Israel by sea and air

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced nine new measures aimed at ending the “genocide” in Gaza. In his address on Monday, Sanchez condemned Israel’s actions, stating that what Israel is doing is not protecting itself, but exterminating an innocent population.

He said that while Spain has already enforced a de facto ban on arms exports to Israel since 2023, the government will now pass legislation to make the restriction permanent.

As part of the new measures, Madrid will close its ports to ships transporting fuel for Israeli forces, and aircraft carrying defense equipment will not be allowed to enter Spanish airspace. Sanchez also said that individuals “directly involved in genocide, human rights violations, and war crimes in Gaza” will be barred from entering Spain.

The Spanish government will additionally ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, restrict consular services for Spanish citizens living in the occupied territories, and expand its presence in Rafah through additional troops and joint projects with the Palestinian Authority to provide food and medicine.

Spain will also increase its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) by €10 million and commit an extra €150 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2026.