Israel on Thursday recalled its ambassador to Spain for consultations in Jerusalem, following comments by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez questioning the legality of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced the decision on X, formerly Twitter, citing Sanchez's "outrageous remarks" and "baseless claims." Cohen took issue with Sanchez's assertion that Israel's actions in Gaza could constitute war crimes.
The diplomatic spat stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, which has resulted in a high number of civilian casualties. Sanchez, during a visit to the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt, expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called for an end to the violence.
Israel has defended its military actions, claiming that they are necessary to protect its citizens from attacks by Palestinian militants. However, human rights groups have condemned the use of excessive force by Israeli forces, which they say has resulted in indiscriminate killings of civilians.
The recall of Israel's ambassador to Spain is a sign of the growing tensions between the two countries. Israel has long sought to maintain strong relations with European countries, but the recent conflict in Gaza has strained those ties.
