Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has urged sports organizations around the world to ban Israel from international competitions as long as Gaza’s “wild barrage” continues, warning that famous events should not be used to “whitewash” their attacks.
His remarks came on Monday the day after massive Palestinian protests in Madrid were forced to suddenly cancel the final stages of Lavruta, the main Spanish cycling race. Organizers abolished the podium after police reported 22 officers were injured and two arrests were injured amid clashes along the route.
Expressing “deep praise” to peaceful protesters, Sanchez said that debate over Israel’s position in global sports should “spread across every corner of the world.”
He previously criticised the “double standards” regarding Ukraine and Gaza, and previously sought to be excluded from Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sarle has been bothered by Sanchez’s comments, encouraging uncertainty and claiming that he calls the government “disgrace to Spain.”
This has happened amid nearly two years of war in Gaza, with local authorities reporting 65,000 Palestinians dead since October 2023.