The Spanish foreign minister declared on Tuesday that Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich are on the list of individuals prohibited from entering Spain.
Through this decision, Spain enters a considerable list of other nations that already declared similar sanctions against the two ministers this past June. The countries in question include the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway. Ben-Gvir reacted to the announcement by suggesting Madrid let Gazans who want to leave immigrate to Spain, writing in Spanish: "No me dejen entrar amí... a los de Gaza, denles entrada libre a España" (Don't let me in... to those from Gaza, give them free entry to Spain). The plan to have Gazans relocate voluntarily has been met by opposition by many countries, who view this as illegal, although Israel said this is never going to be imposed on the population.
Those nations attributed the sanctions to "incitement to violence against Palestinians" carried out by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. The official statement at the time asserted that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich were "responsible for incitement, promotion, and support of activity that constitutes a serious violation of the human right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, especially acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank."
On Monday, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated that Spain "will increase the pressure" on Israel by forbidding ships and planes transporting weapons to Israel from docking at Spanish ports or entering Spanish airspace. He also announced the recalling of the ambassador.
Spain will also boost its assistance to the Palestinian Authority and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and will place an embargo on goods manufactured in Israeli settlements in the "occupied" Palestinian territories, he said.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar stated in a declaration that Sánchez is attempting to deflect public focus from his internal corruption scandals and described his measures as "antisemitic."
Israel reacted by barring Minister of Labor and Social Economy Yolanda Díaz and Minister of Youth and Children Sira Rego, both from the junior far-left Sumar coalition partner, from entering Israel.
