Khaberni - The Deputy Prime Minister of Spain, Yolanda Diaz, escalated her tone against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a "war criminal" and "genocide perpetrator."
She affirmed that "all forms of hostility are justified" towards those she described with these characteristics, in a direct response to Israeli criticisms of Spain.
Diaz's statements appeared in a post on "Bluesky," commenting on a video where Netanyahu attacked Madrid's stance, particularly following an Israeli decision to exclude Spain from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), a multinational body responsible for overseeing the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Benjamin Netanyahu announced the decision to exclude Spanish representatives from the center in Kiryat Gat, accusing the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of "slandering" the Israeli military.
This escalation comes in a context of increasing tension between the two sides, following the war in Gaza, where the CMCC mechanism is part of ceasefire arrangements that were agreed upon in October 2025 with US support.
The latest exchange of accusations reflects a move from the level of political statements to direct diplomatic actions, which threatens further deterioration in relations between Spain and Israel, and undermines international coordination on managing the ceasefire in the sector.
The European stance, both officially and publicly, is increasingly shifting in dealing with Israel due to the genocide war on the Gaza Strip, with public criticisms emerging from within political institutions in several European countries, alongside a growing wave of public protests against the continuation of military operations.
International media networks like "BBC" and "The Guardian" have reported a broadening in the European political discourse that is now more outspoken in criticizing Israeli policies, paralleled by massive protest waves in European capitals calling for restrictions on military support to Tel Aviv. This scene reflects a divergence within Europe between traditional commitments to Israel and increasing internal pressures from public opinion, which sees what is happening in Gaza as a humanitarian crisis requiring a firmer stance from European governments.
