Spain’s prime minister faces international backlash over nuclear-threat remarks toward Israel

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez is facing mounting international backlash after remarks described by critics as a threat to use nuclear weapons against Israel. The comments were reported in coverage of a speech Sánchez delivered last week, in which he argued that Spain could not singlehandedly stop the Israeli offensive but insisted that the cause was worth pursuing. “Spain, as you know, doesn’t have nuclear bombs, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves,” Sánchez said, according to multiple outlets. “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 language quickly drew sharp condemnation from Israeli leaders and Jewish organizations, who framed the remarks as a threat against the Jewish state.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly criticized Sánchez, labeling the comments a “blatant genocidal threat to the world’s only Jewish state.” The Times of Israel reported that Spain summoned Israel’s top diplomat in the country to “categorically reject the false and slanderous statements from the Israeli prime minister’s office.” The exchange underscored a growing strain in Europe’s response to the Gaza war and highlighted lingering tensions over Spain’s handling of its historical memory and contemporary foreign policy.

Juan Caldes, European advocacy coordinator at the European Jewish Association, told Fox News Digital that Sánchez’s remarks were part of a broader pattern he described as hypocritical and cynical. Caldes said the rhetoric reflects antisemitic tendencies embedded in parts of the Spanish government and coalition partners, while stressing that the sentiment does not represent the majority of ordinary Spaniards. “It is beyond hypocritical and cynical to call Israel a genocidal state when one mentions how unfortunate the fact that Spain doesn’t have nuclear weapons to stop Israel,” Caldes said. “That is the definition of a genocide, when there is a deliberate intent to destroy a specific group.” He added that Sánchez’s coalition—comprising socialists and communists—has, in his view, shown antisemitic rhetoric since Oct. 7.

Sánchez’s remarks were echoed by other critics within Spain’s political spectrum. Santiago Abascal, leader of the right-wing Vox Party, charged that Sánchez “would like to have nuclear weapons … but not to defend Spain. To defend Hamas.” The exchange has fed a broader debate about how Europe’s left-leaning governments discuss Israel and Palestinian rights, and how such discussions intersect with antisemitism concerns and public diplomacy.

Demographic context remains relevant to the debate. As of September, The Jewish Agency for Israel reported that Spain’s Jewish community numbered about 12,900, out of a total population of a bit more than 49 million. The small community has long expressed concerns about antisemitic rhetoric and incidents in Spain, particularly in the wake of regional tensions over Israel and Gaza.

In 2024, observers recorded a notable rise in antisemitic speech, incidents, and attacks in Spain—statistics described by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain as the largest rise in modern history. The federation reported an increase of about 321% compared with 2023 and about 567% compared with 2022. The data have fed into ongoing debates about whether government rhetoric is contributing to a climate where antisemitic acts are more likely to occur, and how officials can address that risk without stifling political speech.

The dispute over Sánchez’s remarks comes amid a broader European discourse about Israel’s war with Hamas, humanitarian access to Gaza and regional alliances. Fox News Digital reached out to Spain’s embassy in Washington and Spain’s foreign ministry for comment as the episode drew international attention. The reporting also notes Sánchez’s participation in forums with Palestinian officials and representatives—situations that some critics say reflect a shift in Madrid’s foreign-policy posture in the current conflict.

In Madrid, the timing of Sánchez’s comments coincided with protests and labor actions that allied unions and some civil-society groups organized in solidarity with Palestinians and with Lebanon, with calls from organizers to re-evaluate Spain’s relations with Israel. Images from protests across major Spanish cities showed large demonstrations with signs calling for Palestinian rights and criticizing Western governments’ support for Israel. The protests underscored a domestic dimension to the international dispute and highlighted how the government’s stance on Israel could become a political flashpoint ahead of elections in the broader European context.

The conversation around Sánchez’s remarks also touched on how national leaders discuss the nuclear era and military options in the context of regional conflicts. Critics warned against using hyperbolic language in foreign policy, arguing that statements about nuclear weapons risk escalating tensions, complicating diplomacy, and feeding a climate of fear. Proponents of a more vocal stance on Israel argued that strong rhetoric may be necessary to signal concern for Palestinian civilians and to pressure Israel to adjust its approach in Gaza.

In the wake of the controversy, some observers argued that the incident reveals deeper tensions within Spain’s ruling coalition, where differing views on security, foreign policy, and the Israeli-Palestinian issue come into play. Supporters of Sánchez pointed to Spain’s long-standing commitment to international law and humanitarian relief in Gaza, while opponents warned that provocative language could alienate Jewish communities and embolden anti-Israel sentiment in Europe. The episode has prompted ongoing debate about how governments balance solidarity with Palestinian rights, humanitarian concerns, and the safety and rights of Jewish communities at home and abroad.

Images accompanying the coverage offered visual context for the discussion. A protest scene in Spain illustrating public reaction to the conflict and government policies appeared in coverage of social movements and countervailing voices within the country.

Another image showing Sánchez in discussions with Palestinian officials during a conference underscored the international and intra-governmental dialogues connected to the conflict.

A third image captured a broader scene of demonstrations in Spain amid the broader Israel-Palestinian debate, reflecting the domestic dimensions of the international controversy.

Finally, a photo of Netanyahu at a post-event press conference in Jerusalem provided visual context for the international response to Spain’s rhetoric and the broader political dynamics in the region.