Spain completely withdraws ambassador to Israel after spats over Iran and Gaza wars | EUROtoday

Spain has completely withdrawn its ambassador to Israel, marking a big escalation in diplomatic tensions between the 2 nations. The transfer comes amid Madrid’s robust opposition to latest US-Israeli navy actions towards Iran.

This everlasting recall follows an earlier resolution final September to summon the ambassador again to Spain.

That preliminary diplomatic row was sparked by Spain’s measures to ban plane and ships carrying weapons to Israel from utilizing its ports or airspace, carried out in response to Israel’s navy offensive in Gaza. At the time, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar denounced these Spanish actions as “antisemitic.”

The everlasting termination of the ambassador’s place was formally printed in Spain’s gazette on Tuesday. The Spanish Foreign Ministry has confirmed that its embassy in Tel Aviv will now be led by a cost d’affaires for the foreseeable future.

The transfer marks the most recent escalation in diplomatic relations between the 2 international locations, which have been closely strained since Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October of 2023.

Israel’s embassy in Spain can also be run by a cost d’affaires after the nation summoned its ambassador final May in protest at Spain’s resolution to recognise a Palestinian state.

Tensions have heightened for the reason that U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Sa’ar accusing Spain in early March of “standing with tyrants” for opposing the conflict.

Last week, President Donald Trump threatened to impose a full U.S. commerce embargo on Spain after the NATO ally refused to let the U.S. navy use its bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran.

“Spain has been terrible,” Trump advised reporters throughout a gathering with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, including: “We’re going to cut off all trade with Spain. We don’t want anything to do with Spain.”

He stated he had advised Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to “cut off all dealings” with Spain.

The U.S. relocated 15 plane, together with refuelling tankers, from the Rota and Moron navy bases in southern Spain after the nation’s Socialist management stated it could not enable them for use to assault Iran.