September 16, 2025 | 01:52 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Spanish government has canceled a nearly US$825 million contract for rocket launchers designed by Israel, according to AFP, cited by TRT. The cancellation of the contract came after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced last week that his government would prohibit the sale or purchase of military equipment from Israel over the genocide in Gaza.
The contract, awarded to a consortium of Spanish companies, involved the purchase of 12 SILAM rocket launcher systems based on the PULS platform made by the Israeli company Elbit Systems, according to the Military Balance of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Spain also officially canceled another contract for 168 anti-tank missile launchers, which would be produced under license from an Israeli company.
In April, Spain canceled a contract to purchase ammunition for its police from an Israeli company.
Spain has long criticized Israel's policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. In October 2023, Spain pledged to stop arms sales to Israel concerning its war in Gaza. Last year, Spain expanded this commitment to include the purchase of weapons from Israel.
On September 8, 2025, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned its ambassador to Tel Aviv for consultation. The ambassador's summons came a few hours after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar accused the Spanish government of being "anti-Semitic."
Israel imposed entry bans and personal sanctions on two Spanish officials, Yolanda Diaz, the deputy prime minister, and Sira Rago, the minister of youth and children, over their harsh criticism of Israel's practices in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. Madrid also announced that it would ban fuel transport vessels for Israeli forces from using Spanish ports. Defense material transport aircraft would be prohibited from entering Spanish airspace.
Other actions include banning imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the occupied Gaza Strip.
In addition to canceling defense contracts, Spain also urged international sports bodies to ban Israel from participating in competitions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the treatment of Israel by sports organizations should be similar to that of Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Speaking to his Socialist Party on Monday, Sanchez said Israel's participation in global events is not in line with its attacks on Gaza. "The sports organisations should consider whether it’s ethical for Israel to keep participating in international competitions. Why expel Russia after the invasion of Ukraine and not expel Israel after the invasion of Gaza?" he said as quoted from Al Jazeera. "Until the barbarity ends, neither Russia nor Israel should be in any international competition."
His statement came a day after pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the closing stage of the Vuelta a Espana bike race in Madrid. They threw barriers onto the track in protest of the participation of the Israeli team, Israel-Premier Tech. Police clashed with demonstrators near the finish line, leaving 22 people injured and two people arrested.
Last week, Spain's Minister of Sports, Pilar Alegria, said that Israeli teams should be banned from the world of sports, just like Russian teams were banned in 2022 after the country invaded Ukraine.
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