Spain’s PM faces backlash over Israel nuclear weapon remark, drawing international condemnation

Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, faced sharp international backlash after remarks about Israel and nuclear weapons that critics described as a genocidal threat, with Israel’s prime minister and multiple observers condemning the comment. Madrid’s government, while defending its position, emphasized its condemnation of Hamas’s Oct. 7 attacks and reiterated its commitment to fighting antisemitism and supporting a two-state solution.

In a speech delivered last week, Sánchez said, "Spain, as you know, doesn’t have nuclear bombs, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves," adding, "We alone can’t stop the Israeli offensive. But that doesn’t mean we won’t stop trying. Because there are causes worth fighting for, even if winning them isn’t in our sole power." The remarks quickly drew scrutiny from Israel and observers who argued that they implied potential support for actions against Israel.

Netanyahu responded by accusing Sánchez of making a "blatant genocidal threat to the world’s only Jewish state." A Spanish embassy spokesman in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital that the allegations were "false and slanderous," adding that the Spanish government had condemned Hamas’s attack on Oct. 7 and had demanded the unconditional release of all hostages from day one.

Spanish and European voices inside and outside government underscored the complexity of Madrid’s stance. Juan Caldes, the European advocacy coordinator at the European Jewish Association, told Fox News Digital that Sánchez’s rhetoric had crossed lines according to some observers. Caldes argued that Sánchez had embraced the Palestinian cause to avoid addressing concerns about corruption scandals that have surrounded members of the ruling Socialist Party, and he suggested that Sánchez’s coalition has voiced antisemitic tones since Oct. 7. He also referenced remarks by Yolanda Díaz, Spain’s vice president, reportedly saying, "from the river to the sea Palestine will be free" in a televised speech last year.

Caldes asserted that Sánchez’s rhetoric and government actions reflected an antisemitic thread in parts of the Spanish government, while stressing that the majority of Spaniards do not share such views.

Santiago Abascal, leader of the right-wing Vox Party, echoed the criticism, stating that Sánchez would like to have nuclear weapons, but not to defend Spain—rather, to defend Hamas.

According to The Jewish Agency for Israel’s figures from September, the size of the Spanish Jewish community numbered 12,900 people out of a population of just over 49 million. Separately, the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain reported a sharp rise in antisemitic rhetoric and incidents, noting that Spain experienced the largest increase in modern history in antisemitic speech, incidents, and attacks, up 321% compared to 2023 and 567% compared to 2022.

The government’s foreign ministry responded by highlighting Madrid’s adherence to the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism, adopted in Spain, and the creation of the first National Plan against Antisemitism in 2023. The ministry asserted that Spain rejects antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, or intolerance and noted that the country has welcomed 72,000 Sephardic Jews as fellow citizens in recent years under specific legislation.

The Spanish foreign ministry also reiterated its support for a two-state solution, stating that Spain defends the existence of two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in good neighborliness with reciprocal guarantees for peace and security as the only path to a durable peace.

The episode comes amid ongoing debate in Europe about how to balance support for Israel’s security with concern for Palestinian rights, and as Spain weighs its role in regional diplomacy and in addressing antisemitism at home. Officials stressed that the government’s position remains rooted in the commitment to combat antisemitism and to pursue a negotiated two-state solution, even as it navigates internal political pressures and a wider international chorus of calls for restraint and dialogue.

As the controversy continues, observers note that public discourse over Israel’s security, the Palestinian question, and Spain’s own domestic politics could influence Madrid’s approach to foreign and defense policy in the months ahead. The government has faced questions about the consistency of its stance, but officials reiterate that Spain’s policy supports peaceful resolution, condemns violence on all sides, and seeks to uphold international law while safeguarding its own democratic values.

In summary, while Sánchez’s comments have sparked international debate and domestic scrutiny, Spain’s government maintains that its core commitments—including opposition to antisemitism, support for a two-state solution, and condemnation of extremist violence—remain intact as it engages in regional diplomacy and domestic governance.