Spain freezes arms sales and purchases to Israel over Gaza

Spain has frozen both arms sales and purchases from Israel, the ministry of defence told media on Wednesday.

Defence minister, Margarita Robles, confirmed that all contracts for the acquisition of Israeli armaments since 7 October were currently on hold, the El Pais daily reported.

Before this announcement, Robles indicated that only the sales of weapons to Israel had ceased following the outbreak of the war on Gaza.

However, some existing contracts authorised before 7 October continued without cancellation, El Pais reported.

The announcement followed a formal letter from ministers of Spain’s far-left coalition party, Sumar, which urged a total arms embargo on Israel.

In the letter, Sumar accused the government of keeping some contracts with Israeli suppliers active.  

The ministers expressed their hope for the suspension of any ongoing agreements with Israeli defence or security companies linked to the conflict escalation in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as operations in the settlements illegally occupied by Israel. 

Ione Belarra, former social rights minister under Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and now secretary general of the Podemos party, called for the government to break diplomatic and trade relations with Israel. 

On Monday, she stated that her party would only support next year’s budget if this demand was met. 

Belarra followed up her statement in a Tuesday post on X: "Breaking relations with Israel and lowering rent prices by law is the minimum that can be demanded of a self-proclaimed progressive government. We need all your support to twist the [Spanish government’s] arm."

Sánchez's socialist-led government depends on a coalition with smaller parties to pass legislation, requiring the support of four Podemos lawmakers in the lower house for budget approval.

Despite internal criticism, Spain has been a prominent critic in Europe of Israel's actions in Gaza, which have resulted in over 42,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023.

Earlier this month, Sanchez urged EU members to suspend the bloc’s free trade agreement with Israel in response to military campaigns in the Palestinian enclave and Lebanon. 

Sanchez’s call followed his appeal to other nations to stop supplying weapons to Israel. 

In May, Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, formally recognised a unified Palestinian state governed by the Palestinian Authority, comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital. 

This recognition now includes 146 of the 193 member states of the United Nations.