Netanyahu removes Spain from Gaza coordination centre over ‘hostility’

Lead

Israel has formally removed Spain from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), a U.S.-led body established in October 2025 to oversee humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance to the Gaza Strip. The decision, announced on Friday by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, was taken in coordination with the United States and reflects a deepening diplomatic rift between Jerusalem and Madrid.

Coverage Comparison

Both Al Jazeera and The Jerusalem Post reported on the expulsion, but with notable differences in framing. Al Jazeera’s coverage emphasized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s accusation that Spain was waging a “diplomatic war” against Israel, and used charged language such as “genocidal war” to describe Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The Jerusalem Post, by contrast, focused on Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s statement that Spain’s “blatant anti-Israel bias” disqualified it from participating in the CMCC, and adopted a more neutral tone throughout.

Key Claims

The central facts are consistent across both outlets: Israel expelled Spain from the CMCC; the move was coordinated with the United States; and the decision was communicated to Spanish authorities. The official reason, as stated by Foreign Minister Sa’ar, is Spain’s “blatant anti-Israel bias,” which he argued undermined its ability to contribute constructively to the CMCC’s mission under U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

Prime Minister Netanyahu, in a video statement posted on X, accused Spain of waging a “diplomatic war” against Israel. He referred to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government as having “defamed our heroes, the soldiers of the IDF,” and said Israel would not “remain silent in the face of those who attack us.” Sa’ar echoed these sentiments on X, criticizing Sanchez’s “obsessive anti-Israel bias” and accusing his government of levelling “blood libels” at Israel and its military.

Context and Background

The expulsion is the latest escalation in a series of disagreements between Israel and Spain. In 2024, Spain formally recognized the state of Palestine, a move that Israel condemned as a reward for terrorism. More recently, Spain opposed U.S.-Israel military operations against Iran and closed its airspace to U.S. warplanes involved in that campaign. These actions, according to Israeli officials, demonstrated a pattern of hostility that made Spain’s continued participation in the CMCC untenable.

Perspectives

From the Israeli perspective, as articulated by Netanyahu and Sa’ar, Spain’s actions—particularly its recognition of Palestine and its opposition to military action against Iran—constitute a systematic bias against Israel. Removing Spain from the CMCC is portrayed as a necessary measure to preserve the integrity and effectiveness of the coordination center, which is a key component of the U.S.-led peace plan for Gaza.

From the Spanish perspective, the government has not yet issued an official response to the expulsion, but previous statements have defended Spain’s recognition of Palestine as a step toward a two-state solution and criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza as disproportionate. Spain has also positioned itself as a vocal advocate for humanitarian aid to Palestinians, which may explain its inclusion in the CMCC initially.

The timing of the announcement, just days after Spain’s airspace closure to U.S. warplanes, suggests that the decision is a direct response to Madrid’s recent actions. Both outlets note that the U.S. was consulted in the process, indicating a coordinated effort by the Trump administration and Israeli leadership to signal displeasure with Spain’s policies.

Conclusion

Israel’s expulsion of Spain from the CMCC marks a significant deterioration in bilateral relations, with implications for the international effort to coordinate aid and reconstruction in Gaza. While the immediate trigger appears to be Spain’s recent policy decisions, the move reflects a broader pattern of friction over core issues such as Palestinian statehood and the use of military force in the region. As of now, no response from Spain has been reported, but the diplomatic fallout is likely to continue.