Spain’s Interior Ministry announced the cancellation of a multimillion-dollar ammunition contract with an Israeli arms company amid mounting calls from Spain’s progressive political groups to sever defense ties with Israel.
The deal, worth $7 million, was for NATO-standard ammunition intended for Spain’s militarized police force, the Guardia Civil.
Swift Reversal after Media Leak
According to Euractive, the decision to cancel the contract, awarded on October 21, was prompted by public exposure of the deal by media outlet Cadena SER.
In response, a swift process to terminate the agreement with Guardian Homeland Security SA was initiated, according to Interior Ministry sources.
Government spokeswoman Pilar Alegría confirmed that Spain's “commitment not to buy or sell arms to Israel remains intact.”
The leak intensified existing pressure from left-wing coalition members, including the Sumar platform and Podemos, who have criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them “genocide.”
In recent statements, Podemos went as far as to threaten its support for Sánchez’s government if Spain’s diplomatic and trade relations with Israel are not cut.
Other parties aligned with Podemos, including Izquierda Unida, have also urged stronger actions, pushing for an arms embargo and complete severance of relations with Israel.
The diplomatic rift between Spain and Israel has deepened recently, particularly since Spain recognized Palestinian statehood last May alongside Ireland and Norway.
