^{May 20 - 2025}
‍

The Spanish Parliament has just passed a landmark bill aimed at imposing a complete arms embargo on Israel.

A reliable source close to the negotiations between parliamentary groups informed me earlier today that the vote would go ahead once the official session in Congress began at 3 PM.

The bill, introduced by the Sumar coalition and the Mixed Group, prohibits the sale and purchase of military and police equipment with states accused of committing serious international crimes such as genocide or crimes against humanity.

It includes a halt to all exports of weapons, police gear, and fuel. Additionally, it introduces direct control measures for cargo passing through Spanish ports and airports.

‍

Activists and UN Appeal to Madrid

Yesterday, Alys Samson Estapé, one of the leaders of Rescop—the grassroots network behind the protests in Spain—appealed to the UN and the Spanish Parliament to pass the bill:
🔗 Watch the video here

She described how Rescop has, for the past 20 years, mobilized against Israeli settler colonialism, genocide, and apartheid—most recently through the campaign “Fin al comercio de armas con Israel” (“End arms trade with Israel”).

‍

“We have brought together more than 600 organizations and communities across the country to make complicity impossible,” Estapé said.

‍

“But it’s not enough. We cannot keep going ship to ship and contract to contract. We need structural, legal measures that translate international law into binding and lasting frameworks.”

“That means adopting a comprehensive military embargo. Zero exports. Zero imports. Zero trade.”

“Given the crimes Israel has committed since 1948, a military embargo is the absolute minimum.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Francesca Albanese, echoed the appeal in this statement:

“As UN Special Rapporteur on the oPt, I urge all Spanish MPs to vote YES on Tuesday’s bill to ban arms exports to states under investigation for atrocity crimes.

May Spain choose not to be complicit—this is the precedent we need.”

People Power Works

The vote followed widespread Spanish and global protests against arms shipments to Israel, including direct actions and demonstrations targeting Maersk in Spain and Morocco.

Over the past year and a half, Spain has seen mass mobilizations. Most recently in Madrid, tens of thousands took to the streets demanding a complete halt to arms trade with Israel, in response to the occupation regime’s escalating genocide against children and civilians in Gaza.

The bill reflects growing political and societal pressure for Spain—and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez—to live up to his rhetorical commitments both politically and legally.

Sánchez’s statement in Parliament last week, “We do not trade with a genocidal state,” will no longer be merely symbolic or only partially enforced—it is now becoming binding legislation.

At 6 PM on Tuesday, demonstrators organized by Rescop and BDS will return to the streets of Madrid to mark the passage of the arms embargo.

‍