Spanish parliament approves arms embargo on Israel

According to the Spanish government, which has been one of the strongest critics of Israel within the European Union, the decree bans all exports and imports of defense and dual-use technologies to and from the occupied Palestinian territories. It also prohibits the entry of ships and aircraft carrying fuel or materials for potential military use into Spanish ports and airspace.

The vote passed by a narrow margin after the far-left Podemos party joined other leftist and regional allies in supporting the decree.

Ione Belarra, the leader of Podemos, who held her party’s stance until the final hours, said the government should go further by canceling existing contracts and cutting all ties with Israel.

She had previously described the decree as a “fake embargo”, accusing the government of continuing arms deals and allowing four ships carrying U.S. military equipment bound for Israel to dock at Spanish ports, despite the measure taking effect last month.

Carlos Cuerpo, Spain’s Minister of Economy, defended the sanctions during a parliamentary debate on Tuesday, calling them “a firm and pioneering step at the international level.”

Margarita Robles, Spain’s Minister of Defense, also defended the move as “the final stage of a long process” that began after Operation Al-Aqsa Storm on October 7, saying that Spain halted arms sales to Israel on that very day.

The conservative People’s Party (PP) and the far-right Vox Party voted against the decree.