Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on Monday for Israel to be banned from international sports competitions due to its military actions in Gaza. His remarks followed pro-Palestinian protests that disrupted the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race in Madrid, where an Israeli team was competing.
Sánchez expressed his “deep admiration” for the thousands of protesters who forced the race’s early end and compared Israel’s situation to Russia’s exclusion from sports after its invasion of Ukraine. He questioned the ethics of allowing Israel to continue competing internationally while Russia remains banned.
The Spanish government also revealed it had canceled a nearly $825 million military contract with an Israeli defense firm, reflecting growing tensions between the two countries. Sánchez’s stance has made him one of Europe’s most vocal critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza, where the UN reports a humanitarian crisis.
The protests at the cycling race escalated with clashes between demonstrators and police, resulting in over 20 injuries and two arrests. Protesters specifically opposed the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team, owned by Israeli-Canadian Sylvan Adams.
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