Spain's prime minister demands that Israel be banned from participating in sports contests

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called on Monday for Israel to be excluded from sporting events, a day after propalestinase activists have ended the Vulta cycling race in Madrid.

Israel's foreign minister reacted, calling Sanchezin <x0antisemitic and liar”.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated in recent weeks after the Spanish left government voiced support for protesters who interrupted several Vulta stages, including Sunday's final one in Madrid, due to the participation of an Israeli team.

Speaking to members of his Socialist party, Sanchez said Israel, like Russia, should not be allowed to participate in international sports due to the military campaign in Gaza.

“Sports organisations should consider whether it is ethical for Israel to continue participating in international competitions. Why was Russia expelled after the invasion of Ukraine and is not disfellowshipped Israel after the Gaza invasion?

Until barbarity is stopped, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international race”, he added.

Sanchez spoke a day after Vulta's final race was interrupted when propalestina protesters, opponents of Israeli team participation, Israeli Premier Tech, threw barriers on the street and clashed with police near the finish line.

Authorities said two persons were arrested and 22 were easily injured.

The Spanish government had earlier expressed sympathy for the protesters and suggested that the Israeli team Premier Tech should withdraw from the three-week race that turned into a diplomatic battle.

The team removed the name from the fans, but stayed in the race until the end.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticised Sanchezi with a post to X, including a video of his Monday speech.

A antisemitic and a liar. Did Israel conquer Gaza on October 7th, or was the terrorist state Hamas, who invaded Israel and committed the worst massacre against Jews since the Holocaust?

Hamas is declared a terrorist organisation by the United States and the European Union.

The Gaza war began when Hamas-led militants entered southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping 251 others. 48 hostages are still being held in Gza, and Israel believes 20 of them are alive.

Israel's revenge war has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, which does not separate the number of civilians from that of fighters. The offensive has displaced most of Gaza's 2 million inhabitants, caused massive destruction and severe hunger.

As the war continues, Israel is becoming more isolated, and Spain is at the top of a growing list of European countries that are criticising Israel because of the high number of civilian victims.

Countries like Great Britain and France have said they plan to recognise the Palestinian state, while the European Commission president has called for limiting trade relations with Israel.

Europe remains divided in its stance on Israel, and sanctions or limited sentences have so far had little effect. / REL/ Periscopi/