Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday (April 10) that Spain has been expelled from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) located in southern Israel.
The center is a multinational cooperation organization led by the United States, responsible for overseeing the ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stated on Friday, due to Spain’s anti-Israel policies and its relevant policies during the joint combat operation with Iran against the United States and Israel, Spain will not be allowed to participate in the CMCC.
This move marks the latest escalation in the diplomatic dispute between the two countries. Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which led to the Gaza War, relations between Israel and Spain have been highly tense and deteriorated further during the war with Iran.
Sa’ar expressed, “The Sanchez government of Spain has such blatant anti-Israel bias that it has completely lost the ability to implement President Trump’s peace plan and play a constructive role in the CMCC operated under that plan.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Spain of defaming “our heroes, the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, the most moral soldiers in the world.”
“Therefore, given Spain’s repeated choice to confront Israel, I have instructed today to expel the Spanish representatives from the Military-Civil Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat,” Netanyahu said. “Countries that attack Israel and not the terrorist regimes will not be our partners in future affairs in the region.”
“I will not tolerate such hypocrisy and hostility. I will not allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price,” the Israeli Prime Minister said in a video statement. “Israel will never remain silent in the face of those who attack us.”
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Spain has been formally notified of this decision, and the United States was also informed in advance.
Many European countries, including Spain, have a small presence of troops in the CMCC.
According to the Jerusalem Post, over the past few years, as the Spanish government has expressed increasing anger and dissatisfaction towards Israel on the Gaza war issue, the relationship between Israel and Spain has continued to deteriorate.
Since the outbreak of the war, Spain has banned military equipment sales to Israel. In September last year, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced measures to formalize this ban into law. Israel promptly condemned Spain for leading an “anti-Israel and hostile line.” Subsequently, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel as well.
Last month, Spain permanently withdrew its ambassador from Israel. This week, Spain announced the reopening of its embassy in Iran.
During the war with Iran, Spain closed its airspace, prohibiting U.S. military aircraft involved in airstrikes against Iran from passing through, which was a further step than previously refusing the use of jointly operated military bases. President Trump criticized Spain’s actions and stated that the U.S. would cut off all trade relations with Spain.