The Spanish leader has emerged as one of the EU's most vocal critics of Israel's warfare in Gaza.
While Brussels has not yet been able to agree on joint sanctions, Spain has taken its own measures. Military trade with Israel is to be prohibited by law and ships transporting fuel to the Israeli military will be barred from Spanish ports.
In recent days, Spain has cancelled an order for artillery systems from the Israeli arms company Elbit, worth 700 million euros, reports Haaretz.
Like the demonstrators on the street, Sánchez also talks about a genocide in Gaza.
Accused of incitement
Sunday's massive pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid gathered over 100,000 participants. The target was the final stage of the classic cycling competition Spain around, where an Israel-based team participated.
And the competition's final sprint had to be interrupted when demonstrators managed to get onto the track.
The opposition accuses Sánchez of having incited to public disturbances – and having embarrassed Spain internationally – through his support for the protest movement before the demonstration.
Stands firm
But on Monday, he repeats his "great admiration" for the demonstrators.
Sports organizations should ask themselves whether it is ethically justifiable for Israel to continue participating in international competitions. Why has one not excluded Israel after the invasion of Gaza when one excluded Russia after the invasion of Ukraine? says Sánchez in a speech to party colleagues in the social democratic PSOE.
He also defends his government's stance on the Gaza war, which Israel has described as hateful.
Having one's own voice only serves something if one dares to defend what one believes in, not as a government, but as a popular movement. We stand for justice, which means standing on the side of the victims, not the perpetrators, says Sánchez.
