Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday accused Spain’s prime minister of issuing a "blatant genocidal threat" against Israel after Pedro Sánchez said Spain "cannot stop" Israel’s operations in Gaza alone because it does not have nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu’s sharp response followed Sánchez’s announcement earlier this week of an arms embargo on Israel and comments at a Monday press conference in which the Spanish leader said: "Spain, as you know, doesn't have nuclear bombs, nor aircraft carriers, nor large oil reserves. We alone can't stop the Israeli offensive. But that doesn't mean we won't stop trying, because there are causes that are worth fighting for." Netanyahu said Sánchez’s reference to nuclear weapons amounted to a threat on "the world’s only Jewish State."

Madrid said its measures include banning ships and aircraft from delivering weapons or military-grade jet fuel to Israel and denying entry to anyone who has participated directly in what Spain deems "genocide" in Gaza. The Spanish foreign ministry said the steps reflected public sentiment and Madrid’s support for peace, human rights and international law. Spain recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024 and has been an outspoken critic of Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

Israel has strongly rejected characterization of its actions as genocide and is contesting a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague that accuses it of committing genocide. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar denounced Spain’s measures as politically motivated and announced reciprocal restrictions, including an entry ban on two Spanish politicians from the junior partner in Sánchez’s coalition, Yolanda Díaz and Sira Rego. Saar accused Sánchez of using the issue to divert attention from domestic corruption scandals.

Spain’s foreign ministry called Israel’s entry ban "unacceptable" and reiterated Spain’s commitment to fighting antisemitism, noting as an example the granting of Spanish citizenship to tens of thousands of Sephardic Jews in recent years. Madrid also condemned a separate attack in East Jerusalem on Monday in which Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop, killing six people, including a Spanish national, the ministry said.

The diplomatic spat unfolds amid the long-running conflict that began in October 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251, according to Israeli tallies. Some hostages were later released; Israeli authorities say 48 remain in Gaza, with around 20 believed to be alive. Israel launched a major retaliatory offensive in the Gaza Strip that has resulted in widespread destruction, mass displacement and heavy casualties.

Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its tallies, says more than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the offensive began. The ministry reports that around half of those killed were women and children and that roughly 90 percent of Gaza’s nearly two million residents have been displaced. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of acute shortages of food, water and medical supplies.

Reactions to Sánchez’s remarks were mixed. Some critics on social media likened his comments to irresponsible rhetoric, while others cautioned that his words might have been taken out of context. Spanish officials said the measures were taken to uphold international law and human rights and to respond to widespread public concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s statement escalates tensions between Jerusalem and Madrid at a time when several European governments have adopted varying stances on the conflict, balancing condemnation of militant attacks with concern over the human cost of Israel’s operations. Diplomatic exchanges between Israel and European capitals have already included public rebukes, travel restrictions and legal questions at international courts.

Both Madrid and Jerusalem face domestic political pressures that shape their public positions. Sánchez’s coalition government includes parties on the left that have pushed for stronger measures against Israel, while Israel’s leadership faces intense domestic scrutiny over the conduct and objectives of its Gaza campaign.

The dispute is likely to reverberate through diplomatic channels in the coming days as both governments seek to explain and defend their actions to domestic and international audiences. International organizations and human rights groups continue to call for access to Gaza for humanitarian relief and for measures to protect civilians, while talks at multilateral forums, including the United Nations and the International Court of Justice, remain ongoing.