Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports competitions over its actions in Gaza.
Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image, he told elected representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party.
He said Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the Spanish prime minister a disgrace and accused him of inciting pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid, which caused the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, in which an Israeli team was competing.
Earlier in the day, Sánchez had said that previous protests during the three-week race had shown that Spain shines as an example, with pride on the Gaza issue.
Several Spanish government ministers also praised the final stage protest, which involved about 100,000 people, according to official figures.
It's a relief to me that thousands and thousands of people mobilise against that genocide, because it is genocide and it has no other name, said Óscar López, the minister of digital transformation.
Israel has regularly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and says they are justified as a means of self-defence.
Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun also stated that Israel should not take part in the next Eurovision Song Contest, echoing Sánchez's earlier calls.
The public broadcasters of Ireland and the Netherlands have already expressed that they will not participate if Israel is included in the contest due to their concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
The relationship between Israel and Spain has been tense since late 2023, following Sánchez's concerns about civilian deaths and calls for diplomatic relations to be reconsidered. In 2024, Spain joined Norway and Ireland in acknowledging a Palestinian state, further straining ties with Israel.
This call by Sánchez aligns with a growing sentiment in Spain, where a recent poll suggested that over 82% of Spaniards believe genocide is being committed in Gaza.
As tensions escalate, the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also called for a reevaluation of EU relations with Israel, criticizing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The international community remains divided on the issue, with significant debate surrounding Israel's military actions and the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
