Spain's Parliament Approves Comprehensive Arms Embargo on Israel

Spain's parliament has formally enacted a comprehensive arms embargo against Israel, establishing one of the most restrictive military trade bans in Europe amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. The parliamentary approval on Wednesday finalizes a decree that prohibits all defense and dual-use technology exports and imports while banning vessels and aircraft carrying potential military materials from Spanish territory.

The embargo represents a significant escalation of Spain's criticism of Israel's military operations, making it one of Israel's strongest detractors within the European Union. According to the Spanish government, the measures extend beyond traditional arms sales to include blocking ships and aircraft transporting fuel or materials with potential military applications from accessing Spanish ports and airspace. The legislation also prohibits imports from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.

The vote passed narrowly after the far-left Podemos party joined other left-wing and regional allies in supporting the government decree. Podemos leader Ione Belarra, who had initially criticized the measure as a "fake embargo" for allowing existing contracts to continue, ultimately backed the legislation while demanding further action to cancel all existing military agreements with Israel. The conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox party opposed the measure, creating a deeply divided parliamentary landscape.

During parliamentary debates, Spanish officials vigorously defended the embargo as a principled stance. Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo described it as "a firm step and pioneering at an international level," while Defense Minister Margarita Robles emphasized that Spain had ceased military sales to Israel immediately following the October 7 Hamas attacks. The vote's timing sparked controversy, with the Israeli Embassy in Madrid criticizing the original scheduling that coincided with the attack anniversary as "perverse and inhuman," leading to a one-day postponement.