Escalation within Continuity: Spain’s Foreign Policy towards Israel and Palestine after October 7th
Over the past two years, Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal countries in supporting the Palestinian cause. While Madrid initially aligned with the prevailing European position, recognizing Israel’s right to self-defense after the 7 October attacks, it soon distinguished itself from most European Union (EU) Member States by questioning and later condemning Israel’s conduct of war in Gaza.
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Key Takeaways
The novelty of Spain’s stance since October 7th, lies not in its core principles, but in the tone, visibility, and policy translation of these commitments.
What distinguishes the current phase is that rhetorical escalation has been accompanied by concrete political and legal measures, including sanctions against Israel.
While Spain has positioned itself at the forefront of international pressure on Israel, its capacity to shape European policy remains limited by structural constraints within the European Union.
A favorable political configuration, sustained civil society mobilization, and permissive public opinion have reduced the political costs of adopting a more assertive stance.
Growing political polarization suggests that Spain’s Middle East policy may become increasingly partisan, raising questions about the future of its traditional cross-party consensus.
As the diplomatic crisis between Madrid and Tel Aviv deepened, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez hardened his rhetoric, openly calling Israel a “genocidal state”. This rhetorical escalation was translated into concrete measures operating along two parallel tracks: increased pressure on Israel and stronger support for the Palestinians. On the one hand, Spain joined the case brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of genocide. On the other hand, it increased aid to Gaza and the Palestinian Authority (PA) and recognized the State of Palestine. These developments culminated with the adoption of several measures against Israel in September 2025, bringing Spain–Israel relations to their lowest point in decades.
The interplay between these dynamics has reignited debate about the determinants of Spain’s policy vis-à-vis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Some observers contend that Spain’s stance is consistent with its long-standing sympathy for the Palestinian cause and historically strained relations with Israel. Others point to contextual drivers, including Sánchez’s left-leaning government, a highly sensitized public opinion, a mobilized civil society, and growing polarization.
This paper argues that, while apparently surprising, Spain’s assertive stance is consistent with its long-standing approach to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. What is relatively new, however, is the intensity of Spain’s criticism of Israel and the willingness to translate its commitments into concrete political and legal measures.
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Escalation within Continuity: Spain’s Foreign Policy towards Israel and Palestine after October 7th
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