Spain summons Israel's ambassador to demand clarification on Premier Netanyahu's allegations

By Senhan Bolelli and Nur Asena Erturk

MADRID / ANKARA (AA) – Spain summoned Israel's ambassador in Madrid on Saturday to ask for explanations for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusations that Spain supports "terrorism."

The Spanish Foreign Ministry summoned Israel's Ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon to seek clarification on Netanyahu's accusations.

The diplomatic row between Spain and Israel began on Thursday when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Israel and Palestine to meet with his counterparts.

During a visit to the Rafah border crossing with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo on Friday, Sanchez criticized Israel's response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, calling the situation in Gaza a "humanitarian catastrophe," and urging Israel to "respect civilian lives at all costs."

He also said Madrid is open to unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state, even if it goes against the European Union's wishes.

Belgian Prime Minister de Croo, for his part, posted on X the transcript of his speech at the joint news conference with Sanchez at the Rafah border crossing.

"Read the words I said at the Rafah gate on the conflict in Gaza prime minister @netanyahu. I stick to that point. No more civilian casualties," De Croo stressed.

During his visit, De Croo also bemoaned the high number of Palestinian civilian casualties, particularly among children, and urged Israel to follow international humanitarian law.

Later, Netanyahu issued a statement condemning the remarks, and Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said Israel would summon both countries' ambassadors in Tel Aviv for a "harsh rebuke."

In response to those statements and threat of “harsh rebuke”, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said, "There will be a response."

*Writing by Nur Asena Erturk in Ankara