Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Spain of taking a hostile diplomatic stance toward Israel after the country was removed from a US-led coordination mechanism overseeing post-war arrangements in Gaza.
The decision marks another escalation in already strained relations between the two countries, which have sharply deteriorated since Spain recognized a Palestinian state in 2024, prompting both sides to withdraw their ambassadors.
The Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat, established by the United States following the Gaza ceasefire that came into effect on October 10, was created to monitor the truce and coordinate humanitarian aid deliveries into the territory after years of conflict.
Several countries, including the United Kingdom and France, continue to participate in the mechanism, which brings together military and diplomatic representatives to oversee security and humanitarian operations linked to Gaza.
Israel announced on Friday that Spain would no longer be part of the initiative, effectively ending its involvement in the coordination process.
Netanyahu confirmed the decision in a video statement, saying he had instructed officials to remove Spanish representatives. He accused Madrid of repeatedly acting against Israel and said countries that oppose Israel would not be involved in shaping the region’s post-war future.
He also rejected criticism from Spain, describing its position as hostile and hypocritical, and said Israel would respond to what he called diplomatic attacks.
Relations between Madrid and Tel Aviv have steadily worsened in recent months. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which began after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Tensions have also extended to broader regional issues, including disagreements over US-Israeli military actions in the Middle East, further widening the diplomatic divide.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has previously accused Spain of aligning with hostile positions and criticized its recognition of a Palestinian state, while Spanish officials have defended their stance as consistent with international law and humanitarian concerns.
Spain only established diplomatic relations with Israel in 1986, after decades of non-recognition during Francisco Franco’s rule.
The latest move underscores deepening fractures between Israel and parts of Europe over the Gaza conflict and the future political framework for the region.
