Spain has taken the significant step of canceling a contract to purchase bullets from an Israeli defense firm, a decision that has ignited a firestorm of criticism and contention. This move stems from pressures exerted by the far-left coalition partner of the ruling Socialist-led government, reflecting the heightened sensitivity surrounding arms deals amid ongoing military operations by Israel in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a vocal critic of Israel’s approach towards Gaza, had already halted other weapons deals following the outbreak of hostilities resulting from Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. As part of a broader humanitarian stance, the Spanish interior ministry aimed to terminate a 6.8-million-euro ($7.8 million) contract with IMI Systems, the Israeli firm set to supply ammunition to the Spanish Civil Guard.
However, on Wednesday, the ministry backtracked on its initial attempt to cancel the deal, citing advice from state legal services which indicated that the contract was too far advanced to void without incurring additional costs — namely, paying for the bullets they would not receive. This reversal drew sharp criticism from the junior coalition partner, the far-left Sumar party, which described the situation as a “blatant violation” of the government’s commitment to refrain from trading arms with Israel.
After facing internal pressure, government sources confirmed on Thursday that the contract would be “unilaterally” terminated. This decision followed reassurance from Sumar’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz, who stated that she had personally engaged with Sanchez and the interior minister to advocate for the cancellation. Diaz emphasized that Spain “cannot buy arms from a government that massacres the Palestinian people,” a statement reflecting the moral apprehensions surrounding Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
Israel, for its part, has expressed strong disapproval of Spain’s decision. The Israeli foreign ministry condemned the cancellation, accusing the Spanish government of compromising security for political gain. They asserted that Spain was choosing to stand “on the wrong side of history” by opposing the Jewish state, which they claim is exercising its right to defend itself against terrorism.
This controversy emerges at a time when the Sumar party is also grappling with the implications of Sanchez’s recent announcement to increase defense spending to 2% of Spain’s annual economic output this year, in line with NATO commitments, a shift that had been moved up from a previously targeted deadline of 2029 due to pressure from the United States.
The opposition, represented by the conservative Popular Party (PP), criticized the government’s move to cancel the arms deal, emphasizing that contractual agreements between states should be honored. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo queried the financial implications of the cancellation, questioning who would bear the cost of terminating the deal.
The backdrop of this decision is fueled by a significant escalation in violence and humanitarian crises in the region. The ongoing military offensive by Israel has reportedly resulted in over 50,000 deaths in Gaza according to health ministry sources there, with the United Nations verifying the reliability of these figures. The conflict has also led to mounting tensions internationally, underscored by the International Criminal Court’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the operations in Gaza.
