Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has made a strong political statement calling for Israel to be banned from international sporting events over its actions in the Gaza Strip. Speaking to representatives of the Socialist Workers' Party, Sánchez said it was unacceptable for Israel to use international events to improve its image on the global stage.
"Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image," he declared, adding that the country should be treated the same as Russia after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when it was imposed sanctions and excluded from a number of international sporting competitions and activities.
The Spanish prime minister's statement has sparked immediate reactions from Israeli authorities. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded by calling Sánchez "a disgrace" and accusing him of inciting pro-Palestinian protests in the Spanish capital. The protests, which took place in Madrid on Sunday, had concrete consequences in the sporting arena, as they led to the cancellation of the final stage of the prestigious Vuelta a España cycling race. An Israeli team was also competing in this stage, while the massive demonstrations made it impossible for the race to take place safely.
Sánchez's call is the first of its kind by a leader of a European Union member state, and is expected to spark further debate in the international community regarding the stance towards Israel on the sporting scene.
