US, Israel expel Spain from Gaza coordination center over anti-Israel bias

The United States and Israel have expelled Spain from the U.S. Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in the Israeli town of Kiryat Gat, citing what they described as Madrid’s “obsessive anti-Israel bias.” The CMCC was established under President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan to coordinate and oversee the flow of international logistical, humanitarian, and security assistance into the Gaza Strip.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the decision was made "after Spain has chosen repeatedly to stand against Israel."

"Spain has defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world," Netanyahu said, adding that the Israeli government would not "tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price."

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar noted that the decision was coordinated with the Trump administration amid ongoing anti-Israel hostility in Madrid.

"Spain's obsessive anti-Israel bias under Sánchez's leadership is so severe that it has lost all capacity to play a constructive role in implementing the peace plan of [US President Donald Trump]'s peace plan and the center operating under the framework of this plan," Sa’ar said.

Spain has emerged as one of Israel’s most vocal critics in the West. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently criticized Israeli strikes on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon and on targets in Iran. He also urged the European Union to end what he described as “impunity” for Israel’s actions and called on the bloc to reconsider its association agreement with Israel.

On Wednesday, Sanchez wrote on 𝕏 that Netanyahu's "contempt for life and international law is intolerable."

Spain has closed its airspace to U.S. military aircraft involved in strikes on Iran, a move Spanish officials said reflects their opposition to the conflict, which they have described as “reckless” and “illegal.” Spain has also restricted the use of its bases for such operations.

Diplomatic relations between Madrid and Jerusalem have deteriorated sharply since the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack in southern Israel. The Spanish government has repeatedly condemned Israeli operations against the Hamas terrorist organization, while also raising concerns about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Spain announced last month that it would recall Israeli Ambassador Ana María Salomón Pérez due to a deepening of the diplomatic crisis with the Jewish state. The decision was made by Spain’s Council of Ministers and was signed by King Felipe VI and Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares.

While downgrading its diplomatic ties with Israel, Madrid will continue to be represented by its deputy ambassador. In 2024, Israel recalled its ambassador following the decision by Spain, Ireland and Norway to unilaterally recognize the “State of Palestine” despite objections from Jerusalem.

At the time, Israel’s then-foreign minister, Israel Katz, criticized the Spanish government for its response, including its handling of remarks by Vice Premier Yolanda Díaz, who had used the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” a slogan that is widely debated and interpreted differently in political discourse.

“President Sánchez, by not firing Diaz and announcing the recognition of the Palestinian State, is complicit in inciting the murder of the Jewish people and war crimes,” Katz wrote on 𝕏.

“The Israeli people and the Spanish people are friendly people. We will not allow you, Sánchez and Diaz, nor the members of your government, to separate us,” he added.