Spain's PM unveils 9 measures to stop 'Gaza genocide'

  Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced nine measures aimed at stopping "the genocide in Gaza", including an arms embargo on Israel and a ban on vessels carrying fuel for the Israeli military from using Spanish ports. 

The announcement marks the latest escalation of Spain's outspoken criticism of the Israeli offensive in Gaza, which was sparked by the unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. 

The measures aim to "stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators and support the Palestinian population", Sanchez said in a televised address. 

Here are the 9 measures announced by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez: 

1.  Arms embargo on Israel – Ban on sales or purchases of military equipment with Israel, to be consolidated into law.

2.  Ban on vessels carrying fuel for the Israeli military – Such ships will not be allowed to use Spanish ports.

3.  Reduction of military transport to Israel by air – Spain will act to limit flights carrying military equipment to Israel.

4.  Entry ban on individuals involved in the Gaza war – Those accused of genocide, human rights violations, or war crimes in Gaza will be barred from entering Spain.

5.  Ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements – To stop supporting forced displacement of Palestinians.

6.  Restrictions on consular services – Spanish citizens living in illegal settlements will receive only the minimum legally obligatory consular assistance.

7.  Support projects for Palestinians – New collaboration in agriculture, food security, and medical aid for the Palestinian Authority.

8.  Additional humanitarian funds for Palestinians – Expanded financial aid for Palestinian civilians.

9.  Pursuit of accountability – Spain will take measures to pursue those responsible for genocide and war crimes in Gaza. 

He said his left-wing government would approve a decree to "consolidate in law" a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel, a measure it had applied since the start of the conflict. 

Boats carrying fuel destined for the Israeli military will be barred from Spanish ports, and Spain will act to reduce the transport of military equipment to Israel by air, Sanchez said. 

"All those people participating directly in the genocide, the violation of human rights and war crimes in the Gaza Strip" will be banned from entering Spanish territory, he added. 

Spain will also ban the importation of products from "illegal settlements" in the Palestinian territories with the aim of stopping "the forced displacement of the Palestinian population" and supporting the two-state solution, Sanchez said. 

Consular services for Spanish citizens residing in illegal Israeli settlements will be limited "to the legally obligatory minimum assistance", he said.

Sanchez also announced new collaboration projects in agriculture, food security and medical aid to support the Palestinian Authority and additional humanitarian funds for Palestinians. 

Sanchez has been one of the most outspoken critics of Israel's war in Gaza, becoming the most senior European leader to refer to the conflict as a "genocide". 

His leftist government broke with European allies last year by recognising a Palestinian state, infuriating Israel. 

The Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. 

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 64,368 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable.

Agence France-Presse