Strengthened stance toward Israel bones up battered Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain

In the heart of Europe, the political landscape of Spain has been shaken by a controversial stand on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. King Felipe VI has denounced the situation as an 'unbearable humanitarian crisis,' putting pressure on the opposition leader, Pedro Sánchez, to shift his position.

Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, has been at the centre of a series of corruption probes and unfavourable headlines at home. His wife, Begónia Gómez, is under investigation for alleged business irregularities, and another former senior Socialist and close Sánchez ally, José Luis Ábalos, has already been implicated in an alleged scheme. Additionally, an audio recording featuring Sánchez's party's No. 3, Santos Cerdán, implicated him in a vast kickbacks-for-contracts scheme. Sánchez's brother, David, is also expected to go on trial for charges that include influence peddling.

Amidst these domestic challenges, Sánchez has emerged as one of Europe's most outspoken critics of Israel over its response to the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas. He described Israel's actions as 'genocide' in June, a stance that has been echoed by 82% of Spaniards according to the Royal Elcano Institute. Sánchez has taken a firm stance against Israel, announcing a series of measures including a weapons embargo and the banning of two Israeli government ministers from Spain.

Sánchez's harsh criticism of Israel has left the opposition, particularly the conservative People's Party (PP), looking less decisive. The leader of the PP, Alberto Nuñez Feijóo, has refused to use the term 'genocide' and has been criticized for not denouncing Israel's actions as harshly as Sánchez. In contrast, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, a potential threat to Feijóo for the party leadership, has taken a more radical pro-Israel stance.

The dispute with Israel has not been without consequences. Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the Vuelta a España cycling race, leading to its cancellation and injuries to 22 police officers. Ayuso, the Madrid Mayor, had her photograph taken with the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team during the disruption. Israel barred two of Sánchez's ministers from entering the country and labeled the Spanish government as antisemitic.

The government's stance on Israel's actions in Gaza is seen as politically advantageous, given the public opinion. However, the opposition argues that Sánchez is using the conflict in the Middle East as a smokescreen for his own political issues. Gideon Sa'ar, the Israeli foreign minister, accused Sánchez and his communist ministers of encouraging violence. Sánchez, however, has expressed his concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza directly to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a surprising turn of events, Spain has announced that it will not take part in the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel competes, according to public broadcaster RTVE. The future of Spain's relations with Israel remains uncertain, with the political landscape continuing to be shaped by the ongoing crisis in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Álvaro García Ortiz is due to face trial for revealing confidential information. Óscar López was first appointed Minister for Digital Transformation in Spain on January 20, 2020. In 2024, Sanchez's government acknowledged a Palestinian state. The dispute with Israel has left a lasting impact on Spain's political landscape, with Sánchez's firm stance on the issue serving as a defining moment in his political career.

Orriols suggests that Sánchez is attempting to outdo his left-wing rivals, such as Podemos and coalition partner Sumar, on the Palestinian issue. Whether this move will prove to be politically advantageous remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Israel-Gaza crisis has become a significant factor in the Spanish political landscape.