Spain has called on the European Union to impose an arms embargo on Israel for the duration of its war on Gaza, as pressure mounts on Western governments to confront the scale of destruction unfolding in the besieged territory.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stressed that the EU, as Israel’s largest trading partner, bears a clear responsibility. “We Europeans must ban arms exports to Israel as long as this war continues,” he said, urging the bloc to adopt a position similar to its stance following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022.

Albares also warned of the growing tension between Israel and Iran, calling for the revival of nuclear negotiations with Tehran to prevent further escalation.

The remarks follow a series of bold moves by Madrid, including a parliamentary proposal last month to ban arms sales to Israel, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s call for the EU to suspend its association agreement with Tel Aviv.

For Palestinians, Spain’s position signals a rare breach in European silence, and a potential shift towards accountability in a continent long accused of turning a blind eye to Israel’s war crimes.