Madrid, September 15 (Patrika English News): Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be banned from international sporting events over the ongoing Gaza war. His remarks came after pro-Palestinian demonstrators disrupted the final stage of Spain’s biggest cycling event, the Vuelta a España.
Sánchez praised the September 14 protest, describing it with “deep admiration,” and argued that Israel should face the same treatment as Russia, which was barred from global competitions following its invasion of Ukraine. “Our position is clear – as long as this barbarity continues, neither Russia nor Israel should participate in any international competition,” he said.
Nearly 100,000 demonstrators gathered in Madrid, blocking the race route. Police initially attempted to stop them but later allowed the sit-in to continue peacefully. Protesters particularly targeted the Israel-Premier Tech team, which was part of the prestigious race.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar accused Sánchez of inciting the demonstrations and called his government “a disgrace for Spain.” The opposition Popular Party (PP) also criticized the government, calling the episode “an international embarrassment” for the country.
Spain’s Jewish community federation (FCJE) condemned attempts to justify violence and warned against inciting hatred against Jews.
Vuelta race director Javier Guillén described the disruption as “completely unacceptable,” warning that similar controversies could arise during the 2026 Tour de France, which is scheduled to begin in Barcelona.
The conflict has continued since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed 1,219 people in Israel. Israel’s military response has since left more than 64,905 Palestinians dead in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to figures recognized by the United Nations.
