Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sánchez of levelling a “genocidal risk” towards Israel, drawing an outraged response from Madrid on Friday.
“I do not assume Netanyahu is precisely the individual entitled to lecture anybody whereas committing the atrocities he’s committing in Gaza,” Spanish defence minister Margarita Robles informed Antena 3 tv.
Her feedback got here in response to a message Netanyahu’s workplace posted on X Thursday accusing Sánchez of threatening Israel — the most recent fiery change between the 2 international locations.
On Monday, the Spanish premier had introduced measures to “put an finish to the genocide in Gaza”, together with an arms embargo, a ban on boats carrying gas for the Israeli army and restrictions on imports from unlawful settlements.
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“Spain, as you recognize, doesn’t have nuclear bombs. Nor does it have plane carriers or massive oil reserves. We alone can not cease the Israeli offensive, however that doesn’t imply we’ll cease making an attempt,” he stated in an deal with.
On Thursday, Netanyahu’s workplace issued a scathing response.
“Spanish PM Sánchez stated yesterday that Spain cannot cease Israel’s battle towards Hamas terrorists as a result of ‘Spain doesn’t have nuclear weapons.’ That’s a blatant genocidal risk on the world’s solely Jewish State,” it stated.
A number of hours later, Spain’s international ministry issued a rebuttal.
In a press release, it careworn that “the Spanish individuals are mates of the individuals of Israel as of the individuals of Palestine”, denouncing the Israeli premier’s remarks as “false and slanderous”.
The week-long spat between Israel and Spain comes after months of worsening relations.
Socialist chief Sánchez has been one in all Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s army marketing campaign in Gaza, launched after the unprecedented October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israeli soil.
He is essentially the most senior European chief to discuss with the battle as a “genocide”, and in May of final yr broke with European allies by recognising a Palestinian state.
Israel has since had no ambassador in Madrid, which recalled its personal ambassador to Israel on Monday after Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Spain of waging an “anti-Israel and antisemitic marketing campaign”.
