Israel's significant weapons agreement terminated by Spain in response to protest over Gaza situation
Spain Bans Military Equipment Purchases from Israel over Gaza Conflict
In a significant move, the Spanish government has announced a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel, due to its offensive in Gaza. The ban, approved as a decree, follows a series of cancelled contracts worth approximately 1 billion euros.
The most significant of these cancelled contracts involved the purchase of 12 SILAM rocket launcher systems, derived from the PULS platform made by Israeli firm Elbit Systems. The Spanish government also cancelled another contract for 168 anti-tank missile launchers, which were to be manufactured under license from an Israeli company.
The total value of the cancelled contracts amounts to nearly 700 million euros, according to reports. Barcelona-based Delas Centre estimated that since the start of the Gaza war, Spain had awarded 46 contracts worth $1.044 billion to Israeli companies.
The ban was imposed in response to Israel's military offensive in Gaza, launched after Hamas attacks in October 2023. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has emerged as one of Europe's most outspoken critics of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Gaza policy.
Sanchez questioned why Russia was expelled after invading Ukraine, but Israel faces no expulsion after invading Gaza. He also called for Israel to be barred from international sport over the Gaza war. No international sports organization has officially responded by excluding Israel from international sports competitions following Sanchez's demand, but Spain's public broadcaster RTVE has threatened to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel participates.
Relations between Spain and Israel have been tense for months. Last week, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel after heated exchanges over Sanchez's new measures. Israel, which had a team in the race, was angered by Sanchez's comments. Spanish conservatives were also angered by Sanchez's comments.
However, Sanchez expressed "deep admiration" for thousands of protesters who halted the final stage of the Vuelta a Espana, a cycling race, in support of his stance on Israel. Sanchez also called on sports organizations to ask themselves whether it's ethical for Israel to continue competing internationally.
Israel has not had an ambassador in Spain since Madrid recognized the state of Palestine in 2024. The ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel is part of a broader review to phase out Israeli weapons and technology from Spain's armed forces.
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