Spain is the most committed European country for Palestine since October 2023. Pedro Sánchez officially recognised the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024, becoming the first major nation in the European Union to take this step — before France, before the United Kingdom. In September 2025, he imposed a total arms embargo on Israel, banned ships carrying Israeli military fuel from entering Spanish ports, closed Spanish airspace to Israeli military aircraft, and committed 150 million euros in additional humanitarian aid to Gaza for 2026. Nearly 80% of Spaniards support the Palestinian cause — the highest rate in Europe. But to understand why Spain is so close to Palestine, we need to go back to 1492 — and to Franco.
For the full history of countries that recognise Palestine, see our article on which countries support Palestine. And to understand the question of diplomatic recognition, read our dossier on the recognition of the Palestinian state.
Why do Spain and Israel have historically complex relations?
The history of Hispano-Israeli relations starts badly — and never quite recovered from that beginning. In 1492, the Catholic Monarchs Isabella and Ferdinand signed the Alhambra Decree, expelling some 200,000 Sephardic Jews from Spain. This founding event left a lasting mark on the collective memory of both peoples. The expelled Sephardic Jews settled throughout the Mediterranean basin — in Turkey, Greece, the Netherlands, Morocco — some preserving their Ladino language, a variant of medieval Castilian, into the 20th century.
When the State of Israel was proclaimed in 1948, Franco's Spain refused to recognise it. The official reason: Spain would not recognise Israel until Arab countries had done so. But behind this position lay a more complex reality. In 1950, at the UN General Assembly, when the world voted to lift the diplomatic boycott against Francoist Spain, Israel was one of the few countries to oppose it — Israeli delegate Abba Eban publicly denounced Madrid's historic alliance with the Axis. This humiliation left a lasting resentment. Franco, needing Arab votes to end Spain's diplomatic isolation, drew closer to the Arab world and the Palestinian cause — not out of ideological conviction, but geopolitical calculation. This pro-Arab stance notably spared him from the 1973 oil embargo during the Yom Kippur War.
The Spanish democratic transition, following Franco's death in 1975, did not immediately break with this tradition. Spain only established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1986 — under pressure from its accession to the European Economic Community, which required it to normalise relations with all member states recognised by its partners. This belated normalisation, forced rather than chosen, created no particular warmth between Madrid and Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, the Spanish left, which has dominated the country's political life since the Transition, deeply identified with the Palestinian cause — heir to the anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggles of the 1970s.
What was Spain's relationship with Palestine before Pedro Sánchez?
Since its democratic transition, Spain has consistently maintained a pro-Palestinian position in international forums. It supports the two-state solution, systematically votes for UN resolutions favourable to Palestinian rights, and has maintained relations with the Palestinian Authority since the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993. Spain is also one of the regular contributors to UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Spanish popular culture is deeply in solidarity with Palestine. The Osborne bulls — those advertising panels in the shape of black bulls found along Spanish roadsides — have been repainted in the colours of the Palestinian flag in several regions since October 2023. The famous bulls of Cabanillas de la Sierra, near Madrid, bear the Palestinian green, white, black and red with the inscription "Palestina libre" (Free Palestine). This spontaneous gesture illustrates popular Spanish attachment to the Palestinian cause better than any speech. Sports mobilisations are also significant: during the 2024 Tour de France, pro-Palestinian activists repeatedly interrupted stages to unfurl Palestinian flags. Some of the world's most famous Spanish sportspeople have taken a stand: Pep Guardiola, Lamine Yamal, Pau Gasol. For the full list, see our Top 20 pro-Palestine athletes.
How did Pedro Sánchez make Spain the European vanguard of the Palestinian cause?
From October 2023, Pedro Sánchez adopted a tone that few European leaders dared to take. He described Israeli operations in Gaza as "genocide" — a term most of his counterparts carefully avoided. In January 2024, when several European countries suspended their contributions to UNRWA following (unproven) allegations of links with Hamas, Spain maintained and increased its support: it paid 3.5 million euros in emergency funds to the agency, then an additional contribution of 20 million euros. This decision, going against the grain of European partners, earned him praise from humanitarian organisations and the anger of the Netanyahu government.
In April 2024, during a diplomatic trip to Jordan, Sánchez announced that Spain would recognise Palestine "during this semester". On 22 May 2024, he officially announced it to the Spanish Parliament. "This is not just a matter of historical justice, it is also a necessity if we want to achieve peace," he declared. On 28 May 2024, the recognition was official, coordinated with Ireland and Norway. Israel immediately withdrew its ambassador from Madrid and banned the Spanish consulate from providing services to Palestinians. Netanyahu accused Sánchez of "making himself complicit in calls for genocide of the Jewish people". Madrid maintained its position.
The day after recognition, on 29 May 2024, Sánchez received Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa at La Moncloa, accompanied by the foreign ministers of Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and a representative of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. The photo of this meeting at the Moncloa Palace circled the world — Spain presenting itself as the natural bridge between Europe and the Arab world in pro-Palestinian diplomacy.
What measures has Spain taken against Israel in 2025?
On 8 September 2025, faced with nearly 60,000 deaths in Gaza, Pedro Sánchez announced a nine-measure plan of unprecedented scope in Hispano-Israeli relations. The list is comprehensive:
Total arms embargo. Spain officially enacted by emergency decree-law a complete embargo on the sale and transfer of weapons to Israel — ratifying a veto already in force since October 2023, but now enshrined in law. Ban on Spanish ports for ships carrying fuel destined for Israeli soldiers. Closure of Spanish airspace to government aircraft transporting military supplies for Israel. Entry ban into Spain for persons "directly involved in genocide, human rights violations and war crimes" in Gaza — a measure that could apply to Netanyahu and members of his government, already under arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Embargo on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. And 150 million euros in additional humanitarian aid to Gaza for 2026, plus 10 million euros in additional contribution to UNRWA.
"This is not self-defence, it is not even an attack. It is the extermination of a defenceless people, it is breaking all the laws of humanitarian law," Sánchez declared. "Spain does not have nuclear bombs. We cannot stop the Israeli offensive alone, but we will never stop trying." In response, Israel recalled its ambassador to Madrid and banned Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego from entering its territory. "I am proud that a genocidal state bans me from entering its territory," Díaz responded.
What is the pro-Palestinian mobilisation in Spain?
Popular support for Palestine in Spain is structural, cross-party and massive. According to polls regularly cited by Spanish and European media, nearly 80% of Spaniards support the Palestinian cause — a level without equivalent in the major European democracies. This support is found in all regions — Catalonia, the Basque Country, Andalusia, Madrid, Valencia — and in all social classes.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations in Spain have been among the largest in Europe since October 2023. In Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Valencia, tens of thousands of people march regularly. The Sumud World Flotilla, which left Barcelona in August 2025 to attempt to break the blockade of Gaza, counts among its members Susan Sarandon, Mandla Mandela and Greta Thunberg — a powerful symbolic choice of a Spanish city as the departure point. Spanish universities have adopted divestment resolutions. Unions have voted to refuse to handle cargo bound for Israel. The pressure of civil society has undoubtedly contributed to making Sánchez one of the most committed European leaders.
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Sources
— Euronews, Spain officially recognises Palestine, May 2024.
— Al Jazeera, Spain PM Sanchez imposes arms embargo on Israel, September 2025.
— Franceinfo, Why Spain positions itself as Palestine's leading European supporter, May 2024.
— RTBF, Spain's recognition of Palestine: a long tradition of tension with Israel, May 2024.
— Armées.com, Gaza: Spain hits Israel with a military embargo, September 2025.
— CAREP Paris, Recognition of Palestine between international consensus and persistent obstacles, 2026.
Frequently asked questions about relations between Spain and Palestine
When did Spain recognise the State of Palestine?
Spain officially recognised the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024, coordinated with Ireland and Norway. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had announced it on 22 May in the Spanish Parliament. Spain thus became the first major nation in the European Union to recognise Palestine — before France and the United Kingdom.
Why does Spain so strongly support Palestine?
The reasons are historical, cultural and political. Franco's Spain never recognised Israel (until 1986) and turned towards the Arab world through geopolitical calculation. The Spanish left, dominant since the democratic Transition, identified with the Palestinian cause. And nearly 80% of Spaniards support Palestine — the highest rate in Europe, reflecting a deep cultural and political proximity with the Arab world.
Does Spain still sell weapons to Israel?
No. On 8 September 2025, Pedro Sánchez announced a total embargo on arms exports to Israel, made official by emergency decree-law. Spain also banned ships carrying Israeli military fuel from entering its ports, and closed its airspace to Israeli military aircraft.
What is Spanish humanitarian aid to Palestine?
In September 2025, Spain committed to paying 150 million euros in additional humanitarian aid to Gaza for 2026, plus 10 million additional euros to UNRWA. In January 2024, when other European countries were suspending their contributions to UNRWA, Spain instead paid 3.5 million euros in emergency funds, then 20 million more.
Does Boutique Palestine deliver to Spain?
Yes, Boutique Palestine delivers to Spain with free shipping, in 5 to 7 business days. Our site is available in Spanish with our full range of Palestinian products.