MADRID (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has demanded that Israel be barred from all international sporting competitions over the Gaza war, while his government has also cancelled an $825 million military contract with the country.
Speaking on Monday, Sanchez praised thousands of protesters who disrupted the final stage of the Vuelta a España, one of cycling’s biggest races, and said Israel should face the same penalties as Russia did after its invasion of Ukraine.
“Our position is clear and categorical: as long as the barbarity continues, neither Russia nor Israel should participate in any international competition,” Sanchez declared.
The remarks sparked outrage in Israel and among Spanish conservatives, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accusing Sanchez of “encouraging protests” and calling his government a “shame for Spain.”
Meanwhile, an official document revealed that Spain had scrapped a €700 million ($825M) contract for Israeli-made rocket launchers, part of broader measures announced last week to block military cooperation with Israel.
🚴 Vuelta Chaos and Backlash
- Around 100,000 protesters disrupted Sunday’s Vuelta stage, forcing it to be cut short.
- Demonstrators targeted the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team.
- Spain’s opposition Popular Party (PP) accused the government of causing an “international embarrassment.”
- Cycling’s global body UCI warned Spain’s stance may jeopardize its ability to host future events, including the 2026 Tour de France starting in Barcelona.
📉 Cultural and Political Fallout
Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun also suggested boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates, joining other European nations considering withdrawal.
The war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack, has since killed 64,905 Palestinians and 1,219 Israelis, according to UN-verified figures.
