Spain Withdraws Ambassador from Israel over Escalating Middle East Conflict
The Spanish government has permanently withdrawn its ambassador from Israel following the breakdown of diplomatic relations between the two nations resulting from conflicts in Iran and Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The decision was officially announced through a government document stating that the Spanish ambassador’s tenure in Israel ended on Tuesday, 10 March. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the embassy in Tel Aviv will be temporarily led by a chargé d’affaires.
This move represents the latest escalation in diplomatic tensions between Madrid and Israel, which have intensified since Israel launched military operations in Gaza, Palestine in 2023. Spain has long been recognised as one of the European nations most openly critical of Israeli military actions and supportive of Palestinian independence, even taking the significant political step of recognising the Palestinian state amid the ongoing conflict.
Spain had previously recalled its ambassador in September of the previous year, when Madrid implemented a ban on aircraft and vessels carrying weapons destined for Israel from using Spanish ports and airspace as transit routes.
Beyond criticising Israeli military operations in Gaza, the Spanish government opposes further escalation of conflict throughout the Middle East. Madrid has explicitly stated it will not support military operations by the United States and Israel in warfare against Iran.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez emphasised that his government remains steadfast in rejecting armed conflict, consistent with its position on the Gaza war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “The Spanish government’s position can be expressed in a few words: no to war,” Sanchez stated in a video posted on platform X.
The United States had previously requested support from several European nations, including Spain, to permit the use of their military bases for operations against Iran. However, the Madrid government rejected this request.