Spain fires back after Netanyahu accuses Sanchez of “genocidal” threat

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday accused his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez of issuing a “genocidal” threat against ‘Israel,’ prompting an immediate and sharp response from Madrid, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

"I don't think Netanyahu is exactly the person entitled to lecture anyone while committing the atrocities he is committing in Gaza," Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles told Antena 3 television.

Her remarks followed a message posted by Netanyahu’s office on X Thursday accusing Sanchez of threatening ‘Israel,’ marking the latest heated exchange between the two governments.

Sanchez, a left-wing prime minister, has been among the most outspoken critics of the ‘Israeli’ offensive in Gaza, becoming the most senior European leader to call it a genocide and push for recognition of a Palestinian state.

On Monday, he announced nine measures aimed at halting “the genocide in Gaza,” including a proposed arms embargo on ‘Israel’ and a ban on vessels supplying fuel to the ‘Israeli’ military from docking at Spanish ports.

Read more: Spain’s PM sets out nine measures to “stop the genocide in Gaza”

"Spain, as you know, does not have nuclear bombs. Nor does it have aircraft carriers or large oil reserves. We alone cannot stop the Israeli offensive, but that does not mean we will stop trying," Sanchez said.

On Thursday, Netanyahu’s office issued a scathing statement: "Spanish PM Sanchez said yesterday that Spain can't stop Israel's battle against Hamas terrorists because 'Spain does not have nuclear weapons.' That's a blatant genocidal threat on the world's only Jewish state," it read.

The week-long dispute follows months of strained ties.

 ‘Israel’ has not had an ambassador in Madrid since Spain recalled its envoy on Monday, after ‘Israeli’ Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Madrid of waging an "anti-Israel and antisemitic campaign."