Barcelona has officially suspended its friendship agreement with Tel Aviv, condemning Israel’s violations of international law and its assault on Palestinian rights. The city council, led by Mayor Jaume Collboni’s Socialist party alongside left-wing and pro-independence groups, passed the motion in response to Israel’s ongoing violence in Gaza.  

The resolution halts all institutional relations with the Israeli government and freezes the 1998 sister-city pact with Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Collboni stated that the "unbearable suffering and bloodshed in Gaza" left no room for maintaining ties.  

Barcelona also urged its exhibition centre and port to reject Israeli arms companies and ban ships involved in supplying weapons to Israel’s occupation forces. This follows a similar move in 2023 under former mayor Ada Colau, which was later paused.  

The decision aligns with Spain’s recent recognition of Palestine, as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez continues to challenge Israel’s actions within the EU. Barcelona’s stance reinforces growing European dissent against Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.