Spain's Prime Minister advocates for Israel's exclusion from sports competitions following the disarray at the cycling race.
In recent weeks, a wave of criticism has swept across Europe, particularly towards Israel, over the high civilian death toll in the Gaza conflict. Notable voices include the European Commission and Germany, which have expressed concern and proposed sanctions against Israel.
The European Commission has suggested broad sanctions, such as suspending trade benefits and imposing sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers and settlers due to alleged human rights violations. Germany's Foreign Minister has also spoken out against Israel's ground offensive in Gaza, advocating for a two-state solution, a ceasefire, and a hostage agreement.
These developments reflect a growing EU pressure on Israel to change its course in Gaza, with concerns about humanitarian law violations and calls for an immediate ceasefire echoing throughout the continent.
Meanwhile, Israel's retaliatory offensive has reportedly killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. This staggering figure has fueled the criticism, with Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sañchez, calling for Israel to be banned from sports events.
The war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, resulting in the death of approximately 1200 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251.
Spain's stance has not gone unchallenged. Israel's Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, has responded by calling Sañchez an "antisemite and a liar". The UCI, the governing body of cycling, has also expressed concern about Spain's ability to host major international sporting events, ensuring they take place in safe conditions and in accordance with the principles of the Olympic Charter.
The Vuelta, a major Spanish cycling race, has become a focal point of the tension. Protests against the Israeli team participating in the race disrupted the event, with an estimated 100,000 people taking to the streets, according to the central government's representative for the Madrid region. The Vuelta race director, Javier Guillén, defended letting the Israeli team stay in the race, stating that the Vuelta's position was to abide by the norms of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Despite the disruptions, the Israeli Premier Tech team remained in the race. Guillén expressed hope that everything will be solved by next year's Tour de France, which is set to begin with a stage in Barcelona. However, he also mentioned that the international entities will need to make decisions, and cycling will need to have some internal discussions to find solutions.
Spain is not alone in its criticism of Israel. Countries including the UK and France have plans to recognize a Palestinian state, further indicating a growing list of European countries increasingly critical of Israel due to the heavy civilian toll.
The UCI has strongly condemned the exploitation of sport for political purposes, expressing its disapproval of the events that marked the Vuelta. Guillén also stated that the Vuelta's position was to abide by the norms of the International Cycling Union (UCI).
Tensions between Spain and Israel have escalated due to Spain's support for protesters disrupting the Spanish Vuelta cycling race, where an Israeli team was participating. The Spanish Government has expressed sympathy with the protesters, adding to the complexity of the situation. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how both parties will navigate these challenging times.
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