Spain permanently withdraws ambassador to Israel — first permanent diplomatic break of war

Spain formally published an announcement in its official gazette terminating the ambassador's position in Israel, making permanent what had been a temporary recall since September. Spain's Foreign Ministry confirmed that its embassy in Tel Aviv will be led by a charge d'affaires 'for the foreseeable future.' The rupture stems from a long-running diplomatic row: Spain banned aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel from its ports and airspace during the Gaza war, a policy Israeli FM Gideon Sa'ar denounced as antisemitic. More recently, Sa'ar accused Spain in early March of 'standing with tyrants' for opposing the US-Israel Iran strikes. Israel's own embassy in Madrid is also run by a charge d'affaires after Israel summoned its ambassador last May in protest of Spain's recognition of a Palestinian state. Spain's permanent ambassador withdrawal is the most significant European diplomatic break with Israel of the Iran war — going further than France, Germany, or the UK, which have maintained full diplomatic representation while issuing public criticism of civilian casualties. The move reflects Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez's domestic political positioning and his coalition's dependence on left-wing parties that have consistently called Israel's Gaza and Iran operations war crimes.