Spain's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations, hours after Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused the Spanish government of "antisemitism," following its new measures against Israel-bound ships and aircraft over the war in Gaza.
"At the very same time that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez attacked Israel, Palestinian terrorists attacked and murdered six Israelis, among them Yaakov Pinto, a new immigrant from Spain."
"Sánchez and his twisted ministers, who justified the October 7 massacre, have long since chosen to stand with Hamas and against Israel. Disgraceful!"
In his statement, Sa'ar also said the government used the measures to divert public attention from corruption scandals.
On Saturday, the Spanish government planned to approve sanctions against Israel at the next Council of Ministers meeting on Tuesday, El País reported.
Spain working to implement arms embargo on Israel
The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) and the Sumar electoral alliance in Spain have been reportedly working to implement an arms embargo on Israel.
Spain reportedly wants the embargo to be implemented immediately, El País cited government sources as saying. The embargo will prohibit the sale, supply, transfer, or export of weapons and technology directly or indirectly to Israel, according to the report, and this would apply to both public entities and private companies.