Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Sunday urged that Israel be excluded from international sporting competitions over its military campaign in Gaza, saying the country "cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image." He told elected representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party that Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia was following its full‑scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The call came amid large pro‑Palestinian protests in Madrid that prompted the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race after demonstrators blocked parts of the route. Spanish officials said about 100,000 people took part in the demonstration. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded by calling Sánchez "a disgrace" and accusing him of inciting the protests.
Several members of Sánchez's government publicly praised the Madrid demonstration. "It's a relief to me that thousands and thousands of people mobilise against that genocide, because it is genocide and it has no other name," Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López said, repeating the government's assertion that Israel's actions amount to genocide. Spain's Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said Israel should not be allowed to take part in the next Eurovision Song Contest, echoing calls Sánchez made earlier in the year.
Israel has repeatedly denied that its operations in Gaza constitute genocide, saying its actions are justified as self‑defence against Hamas after the 7 October 2023 attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people and resulted in roughly 251 hostages being taken. Israeli officials have condemned Sánchez's remarks as inflammatory; Saar accused Spain's authorities of employing "wild and hateful rhetoric" and of antisemitism.
The Spanish government's position has strained relations with Israel since late 2023, when Sánchez voiced concern about civilian casualties in Gaza and some ministers proposed severing diplomatic ties. In 2024 Spain joined Norway and Ireland in formally recognising a Palestinian state. Last week Sánchez publicly accused Israel of genocide and announced measures including an arms embargo. A poll by the Madrid‑based Elcano Royal Institute indicated that at least 82% of Spaniards believe genocide is being committed in Gaza.
Two days after Sánchez's announcement, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she favoured suspending free trade and bilateral support with Israel, citing what she described as a "man‑made famine" in Gaza. Von der Leyen also criticised Europe's failure to find a unified response to conditions in the territory. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has denied that starvation is taking place and has blamed aid agencies and Hamas where shortages occur.
Humanitarian monitors and aid agencies have reported severe shortages in Gaza. In August the UN‑backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine was taking place in parts of the territory. Israel controls all border crossings into the Gaza Strip and, as the occupying power, is widely considered under international law to bear responsibility for protecting civilian life, including preventing starvation, though Israel points to delays and obstacles in the delivery of aid at Gaza's border.
The conflict since October 2023 has produced heavy civilian losses. Gaza's Hamas‑run health ministry reported at least 64,871 people killed in Israeli attacks since the war began. Independent verification of casualty figures in Gaza is limited, and different organisations report differing numbers.
The dispute has spilled into cultural and sporting arenas. Public broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands have said they would not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is included, describing the human toll in Gaza as "appalling" and grounds for withdrawal. Sánchez's suggestion that Israel be barred from international sports echoed the treatment of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, when many international federations and events imposed bans or restrictions on Russian teams and athletes.
International sports governing bodies make eligibility and participation decisions independently, and any formal exclusion of a national team or delegation would depend on those organisations' rules and deliberations. For now, Sánchez's proposal adds to mounting diplomatic pressure on Israel from parts of Europe and highlights the extent to which the Gaza war is reshaping political, cultural and sporting ties.
The Gaza war began after Hamas's 7 October attack on southern Israel. Israel launched a large‑scale military campaign in response, saying it targeted Hamas infrastructure and militants. The conflict has prompted global protests, diplomatic realignments and calls from some European governments and institutions for stronger measures against Israel, while Israel and its supporters have emphasised the security rationale for military operations and criticised what they see as disproportionate condemnation.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic exchanges continuing between European capitals and Jerusalem, and demonstrations planned in several countries. Any movement toward formal sporting boycotts or exclusions would require actions by international federations and broadcasters, which to date have issued a mix of statements and position changes in response to the unfolding humanitarian and political crisis.