Spain’s parliament approves arms embargo on Israel

Spain’s parliament has voted to enshrine in law a government-imposed arms embargo on Israel, originally announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez amid the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, AFP reported.

The measure passed with 178 votes in favor and 169 against, with backing from the far-left Podemos party, a junior partner in Sánchez’s Socialist coalition.

The law’s preamble states that Israel’s response to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks “has turned into an indiscriminate assault on the Palestinian population, which many experts have described as genocide.”

The legislation also bans the transit of aviation fuel for military use and the promotion of products originating from “illegal settlements” in Gaza and the West Bank.

It allows exceptions for dual-use defense equipment if applying the embargo would harm Spain’s national interests.

In September, Sánchez announced additional measures, including banning Israeli ships and planes carrying weapons from entering Spanish ports or airspace, and canceling a €700 million contract with an Israeli arms manufacturer.