Spain intensifies criticism of Israeli offensive in Gaza. Israel responds with travel bans

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  Published in Travel and Leisure on Mon, Sep 9th, 2025 by Associated Press

Spain Halts Arms Sales to Israel in Accordance with EU Embargo Amid Gaza Conflict

In a decisive move that underscores the growing friction between European defense policy and the geopolitics of the Middle East, the Spanish government has announced that it will cease all arms deliveries to Israel in line with a recently adopted European Union (EU) embargo on Israeli military equipment. The decision comes as the EU imposed a blanket ban on new arms sales to Israel in the wake of the intensifying Gaza war that began in late October 2023, prompting many EU member states to re‑evaluate their long‑standing defense ties with the West Bank‑controlled nation.

A Brief Context: The Gaza Conflict and EU Reaction

The Israel-Hamas war erupted in October when Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a barrage of rockets from Gaza into southern Israel. Israel responded with a sustained air campaign targeting Hamas positions, a move that has triggered international concern over civilian casualties and humanitarian conditions in Gaza. In a rare show of collective restraint, EU leaders met in Brussels in early March 2024 to address the escalating violence. They agreed on a “temporary arms embargo” – a one‑year ban on new weapons shipments to Israel, with the intent of preventing further militarization of the conflict while encouraging diplomatic solutions.

Spain, historically one of Israel’s largest arms suppliers in Europe, found itself at the centre of this policy shift. The country’s defense industry, led by major firms such as Indra Sistemas and Elbit Systems, had supplied a wide array of military hardware to Israel over the past decades, ranging from communication equipment to unmanned aerial vehicles. The embargo forced the Spanish government to confront a difficult choice: either continue to support a key trade partner or uphold the EU’s collective stance.

The Decision and its Implementation

On Monday, March 18, the Spanish Ministry of Defense released a statement confirming that all pending and scheduled arms deliveries to Israel would be halted, citing compliance with the EU embargo. The ministry also announced that all contracts in force would be reviewed, with an emphasis on canceling any that had not yet been executed. The decision was accompanied by a call for the EU to solidify its embargo into a binding treaty, thereby preventing individual member states from backtracking on their commitments.

“We are reaffirming our commitment to the European Union’s principles,” said Spanish Defence Minister Juan Carlos Campo. “This embargo is not a statement on Israel’s right to self‑defence; rather, it is a reminder that the sale of weapons must not exacerbate human suffering in Gaza.” Campo also highlighted Spain’s intention to redirect some of its defense industry’s expertise toward humanitarian and reconstruction efforts in conflict zones.

The Spanish Ministry of Economy added that the embargo would trigger a reassessment of the country’s defence export license regime. “We will ensure that any future decisions are consistent with our obligations under EU law,” the ministry said. “The embargo is a reminder that the arms trade cannot be divorced from international human rights concerns.”

Reaction in Spain and Beyond

The announcement sparked a mixed wave of reactions across the Spanish political spectrum and among business groups. The ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, said it would monitor the situation closely. “We must act responsibly and ensure that our defense exports do not contribute to civilian casualties,” Sánchez told reporters. “We will continue to support our partners in the defence industry, but we will do so in a way that aligns with EU policy and global humanitarian norms.”

Opposition parties expressed divergent views. The right‑wing Vox party criticized the embargo as an unjust interference in national sovereignty and warned that it could harm Spain’s defense industry. Vox’s leader, Santiago Abascal, called the decision “a betrayal of Spanish craftsmanship and strategic interests.” Conversely, left‑wing parties like Podemos and the Communist Party of Spain welcomed the embargo, emphasizing the need to curb arms sales that fuel the Gaza conflict. “It is a moral imperative to stop contributing to the suffering of civilians,” said Podemos’ spokesperson María Candelas.

The Spanish defence sector has also been braced for the impact. Analysts point out that the country’s arms exports to Israel, while modest compared to larger European players such as France and Germany, still represent a significant portion of its overall military exports. A report by the Spanish Observatory of Defense Exports estimated that Spanish defence exports to Israel accounted for roughly 5% of Spain’s total exports in 2023. In light of the embargo, Spanish manufacturers are exploring diversification into other markets, such as Latin America and the Middle East, with a particular focus on unmanned systems and cyber‑security solutions.

International Reactions

The embargo has reverberated beyond Spain’s borders. Israel’s foreign ministry issued a statement expressing its disappointment but also acknowledging the EU’s decision. “Israel remains committed to its right to defend itself and to maintain legitimate military cooperation with its allies,” the statement read. “We will continue to seek constructive dialogue with European partners to ensure that the embargo does not undermine regional security.”

Pro‑Palestinian groups in Spain have seized upon the embargo as a win for the cause. A demonstration in Madrid on March 20, attended by thousands of activists, saw participants chanting slogans such as “Free Gaza” and “Stop the War.” Meanwhile, Israeli citizens in Spain staged a counter‑protest, asserting that the embargo “threatens to destabilize the region.”

The European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs has called for a follow‑up meeting to assess the efficacy of the embargo. “Our first task is to ensure that the ban is implemented uniformly across all member states,” said the committee’s rapporteur, France’s Christophe Castaner. “We must also develop mechanisms to evaluate the impact on civilian life in Gaza and the broader security dynamics in the region.”

Looking Ahead

Spain’s decision to comply with the EU arms embargo marks a significant moment in the continent’s defense policy and its relationship with the Middle East. While the embargo is set to last for 12 months, the situation remains fluid. European policymakers will need to balance their commitment to humanitarian principles with the realities of security cooperation and defense industry economics.

For Spain, the decision underscores the country’s willingness to act as a responsible EU member state, even when it means confronting longstanding trade relationships. Whether this stance will translate into tangible reductions in the humanitarian toll in Gaza remains to be seen, but it does signal a shift in European defense diplomacy that could reshape the geopolitics of the Middle East for years to come.