Spain Has Formally Withdrawn Its Ambassador To Israel In Protest Of Gaza’s Genocide And War In Iran
Spain’s embassy in Tel Aviv will now be run by a chargé d’affaires, a lower-level diplomat who handles day-to-day work but without full authority of an ambassador.
Spain has formally withdrawn its ambassador to Israel, further downgrading diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent years as Spain’s government has become one of Israel’s most outspoken critics in Europe over Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has killed more than 63,000 Palestinians.
In September 2025, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez announced a package of measures against Israel, including a full arms embargo that banned all military exports and imports between the two countries.
The measures also barred ships carrying fuel for Israel’s military from Spanish ports and blocked Israeli military aircraft from Spanish airspace.
Most recently, Sánchez has publicly condemned the US and Israeli strikes on Iran as “unjustifiable” and refused the US to use jointly operated military bases in southern Spain for Iran-related operations, triggering threats of trade consequences from US President Donald Trump.
On March 11, Spain’s official state gazette announced Spain had officially terminated the appointment of its ambassador to Israel, Ana María Sálomon Pérez, a decision signed by King Felipe VI.
Sálomon Pérez had already been recalled to Madrid in 2025 and had not returned to Tel Aviv since.
Spain’s embassy in Tel Aviv will now be run by a chargé d’affaires, a lower-level diplomat who handles day-to-day work but without full authority of an ambassador.
Israel’s embassy in Madrid is currently also led by a chargés d’affaires after Israel recalled its ambassador in May 2024 when Spain announced it would recognize the state of Palestine.
Sofia Hou
Sofia Hou
Kassy Cho
