Israel has removed Spain from a U.S.-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, accusing Spain of “hostility” and supporting “terrorist regimes” by opposing US-Israeli actions against Iran.
Taking to X, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video message along with text stating: “Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us.
Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/c95fTDNXkW
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) April 10, 2026He added that Israel will not be partners with countries that “attack the State of Israel instead of terrorist regimes.”
“I am not willing to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price,” Netanyahu wrote.
On Wednesday, Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez posted on X in the wake of Israel’s most brutal bombardment of Lebanon yet, despite an apparent ceasefire announced by U.S. President Trump: “His contempt for life and international law is intolerable,” Sánchez wrote, calling for condemnation from the international community and the EU and presumably the arrest of Netanyahu for war crimes.
“The European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel. And there must be no impunity for these criminal acts,” he wrote.
Justo hoy, Netanyahu lanza su ataque más duro contra el Líbano desde que empezó la ofensiva.
Su desprecio por la vida y el derecho internacional es intolerable.
Toca hablar claro:
– Líbano debe formar parte del alto al fuego.
– La comunidad internacional debe condenar esta…
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) April 8, 2026Relations between Spain and Israel have been crumbling for some time. Madrid permanently withdrew its ambassador to Israel in March 2026, downgrading diplomatic representation to the chargé d’affaires level, while Israel had already recalled its own ambassador in May 2024. Spain has implemented an arms embargo on Israel and denied docking permissions in 2024 to ships believed to be carrying weapons to Israel.
This is also not the first time that Sánchez has called out Netanyahu’s violation of international law, as Madrid has heavily criticized Israeli attacks on both Gaza and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu will have support from D.C., as Trump has been angered by NATO allies who have not fully backed his war in Iran, especially in helping to get the Strait of Hormuz reopened.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his disappointment over Spain’s refusal to allow the U.S. to use its military bases and airspace for strikes against Iran. He then suggested that the U.S. may re-examine its military footprint in Spain, as well as what value NATO overall brings to America.
