Above photo: Chema Moya / EFE.
Madrid has been among the more outspoken critics of Israel in Europe.
Pursuing legal and diplomatic measures over its genocide in Gaza.
Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska announced on 7 October that Madrid will submit a formal complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over Israel’s kidnapping of hundreds of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters.
Grande-Marlaska said any assault on civilians in international waters constitutes an act of unlawful detention under both Spanish and international law.
On Sunday, 29 Spanish activists who were part of the flotilla landed in Madrid after being detained by Israeli forces in international waters.
Many of the activists were subjected to “physical and psychological ill-treatment” while in detention.
Flotilla participant Rafael Borrego told reporters that “the physical and psychological abuse continued for days. They beat us, dragged us on the ground, blindfolded us, and tied our hands and feet.”
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that the 28 remaining Spanish citizens still held in Israel were expected to return home on Monday.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which departed from Barcelona carrying activists from several countries, was intercepted by Israeli forces while attempting to reach Gaza.
Tens of thousands joined demonstrations across Spain, Italy, and Portugal denouncing Israel’s assault on the flotilla and its ongoing genocide in Gaza.
In Barcelona, eight people were arrested and 20 police officers were injured after clashes erupted during a march of roughly 70,000 demonstrators, some of whom vandalized stores they said were linked to Israel.
Out of 49 Spaniards detained by Israeli forces on the aid flotilla, 21 flew back to Spain from Tel Aviv on Sunday, according to Albares.
Since the beginning of Israel’s genocide against Gaza, Spain has emerged as one of Europe’s strongest critics of Tel Aviv’s actions.
Madrid froze all arms exports to Israel within days of the bombardment, later escalating to a full embargo that also bans Israel-bound weapons ships and aircraft from Spanish ports and airspace.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has repeatedly called out Israel for committing genocide and vowed that Spain “will not be complicit.”
In May 2024, Spain formally recognized the State of Palestine and joined South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), framing its policy as both moral and legal.
Israel retaliated with diplomatic restrictions and accusations of antisemitism, but Madrid dismissed them as baseless.
Spain’s stance now represents one of the clearest rejections within the EU of Israel’s war on Gaza and its impunity before international law.
