On September 23, 2025, Spain’s government took a dramatic step on the world stage, approving a sweeping arms embargo on Israel and intensifying its calls for the State of Palestine to be recognized as a full member of the United Nations. The move, announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and his cabinet, marks the latest escalation in Madrid’s increasingly vocal opposition to Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza—a conflict Sánchez has repeatedly described as "genocide."
According to El País and other major outlets, the embargo is just one part of a nine-point package of measures designed to halt what the Spanish government sees as grave violations of human rights in the besieged Gaza Strip. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo, speaking at a press conference after the Council of Ministers’ decision, emphasized, “This is further evidence of the government’s political commitment and the international leadership of Spain and the prime minister to respect human rights.” The decree, which came into force immediately, prohibits all exports of defense material and dual-use products or technologies to Israel, as well as the import of such equipment into Spain. It also blocks requests for the transit of aircraft fuel with potential military applications and bans imports of products originating from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, including their advertising.
While Spain had already suspended arms export licenses to Israel since November 2023, citing concerns over violations of international humanitarian law, this new decree consolidates those measures into law. It also extends the embargo to new areas, such as fuel transits and imports from settlements, which had not previously been covered. As Economy Minister Cuerpo explained, “The embargo transcends previously imposed partial restrictions and includes bans on arms exports, fuel transits, and imports of products and services from occupied areas.”
Spain’s left-wing coalition partner Sumar hailed the move as a historic first among European countries. In a statement, Sumar declared, “With this move, we became the first country to ban arms exports, fuel transits, and imports… that paved the way for the European Union.” The coalition hopes that Spain’s example will encourage other EU member states to follow suit and adopt similar restrictions against Israel.
But not everyone in Spain’s political landscape is satisfied with the timing or scope of the measures. Ione Belarra, leader of the left-wing Podemos party, voiced sharp criticism of the government for acting too late. “Arms embargoes are implemented before war crimes are committed, not with 60,000 innocent victims,” Belarra said, referencing the soaring death toll in Gaza. Her remarks reflect a broader frustration among some progressive factions, who argue that Spain should have acted sooner to prevent the scale of suffering now evident in the territory.
On the other side of the aisle, the conservative opposition remains unconvinced. The People’s Party (PP), Spain’s main conservative force, has not yet committed to supporting the embargo. Parliamentary spokesperson Ester Muñoz cautioned that the measure could have unintended consequences, pointing out, “Many components used by Spanish security forces come from Israel. I ask that this problem is not underestimated; this is a complex problem.” The PP has said it will wait to review the full text of the royal decree before deciding its stance, underlining the political uncertainty that still surrounds the embargo’s future.
Despite the immediate effect of the decree, its permanence is not guaranteed. The measure must still be approved by parliament, where Sánchez’s left-wing government lacks a clear majority and has often struggled to pass contentious legislation. The debate over the embargo is likely to intensify as lawmakers weigh Spain’s security needs against its growing commitment to human rights and international law.
Government spokesperson and Education Minister Pilar Alegria reiterated Spain’s broader stance, linking the embargo to Madrid’s recognition of Palestine and its support for a two-state solution. “Spain has done so in May, and now we see many countries such as France, Portugal, Canada, Britain, and Australia following suit. Spain has played a key role from the start in supporting coexistence through a two-state solution,” Alegria told reporters. Her comments reflect a sense of pride in Spain’s leadership on the issue, as well as a belief that international momentum is building for Palestinian statehood.
Prime Minister Sánchez himself has been one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks. In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Sánchez declared, “This conference marks a milestone, but it’s not the end of the road. It’s only the beginning… The State of Palestine must be a full member of the United Nations. The process for the State of Palestine to join this organisation must be completed as soon as possible, on an equal footing with other states.”
Sánchez’s government has also introduced other measures targeting individuals and entities associated with alleged war crimes in Gaza. Among them is an entry ban on “all those people participating directly in the genocide, in the violation of human rights and war crimes in the Gaza Strip.” The prime minister has repeatedly condemned what he sees as Europe’s “double standards” in its responses to the Gaza crisis and the Russia-Ukraine war, calling the international community’s failure to respond robustly to Israel’s actions “one of the darkest episodes of international relations in the 21st century.”
Spain’s relationship with Israel has grown increasingly tense as a result of these policies. Madrid has pressed the European Union to reconsider the EU-Israel Association Agreement, arguing that Israel’s conduct in Gaza breaches the accord’s human rights clause. This push for a tougher EU line reflects a broader foreign policy shift for Spain, which has moved steadily toward a more activist stance on Middle East issues since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
Notably, Spain had initially planned to approve the full arms embargo and related sanctions earlier in September, but postponed the decision for what officials described as “technical and legal reasons.” The final approval on September 23 followed weeks of internal debate, coalition negotiations, and mounting international pressure.
As the dust settles on this landmark decision, the world is watching to see how Spain’s parliament will respond—and whether other European countries will follow Madrid’s lead. For now, Spain stands at the forefront of a growing international movement to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza, setting a precedent that could reshape the diplomatic landscape in Europe and beyond.
With the future of the embargo still uncertain, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continuing, the stakes remain high for all parties involved. Spain’s bold move has sent a clear message, but the next chapter in this unfolding story will depend on the choices of lawmakers at home and allies abroad.
