Israel Summons Spanish Ambassador After Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez Labels Israel a “Genocidal State”
Israel summoned the Spanish ambassador on Wednesday following remarks by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who described Israel as a “genocidal state.”
Ana Salomon was called to a meeting at Israel’s Foreign Ministry after Sánchez stated that Spain “does not do business” with such a state.
“Following the serious comments made by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish ambassador to Israel has been summoned for a reprimanding meeting at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem tomorrow,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced in a statement.
During a question-and-answer session in the Madrid parliament, Sánchez responded to criticism from Gabriel Rufiani, a Catalan MP, who accused the Spanish government of maintaining trade relations with Israel despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Spain’s left-wing Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez calls Israel “estado genocida” (a genocidal state)
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— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 15, 2025
“I want to make one thing clear, Rufiani: we do not do business with a genocidal state,” Sánchez emphasized.
This appears to be the first time Sánchez has publicly used the term “genocidal state”—a phrase often employed by his far-left coalition partner, the Sumar party.
Sumar’s leader and second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, has repeatedly accused Israel of genocide and called for a halt to trade relations between Spain and Israel.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military continues its offensive in the Gaza Strip, with reports indicating that more than 52,900 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, most of whom were women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel is also facing a genocide lawsuit at the International Court of Justice related to the ongoing conflict in the enclave.
