Spain pushes EU to expel Israel from European sports tournaments
Spain is reportedly spearheading a coordinated initiative aimed at persuading the European Union (EU) to eliminate Israel from all continental sports competitions over its genocidal war on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip.
According to a report published by the Spanish daily sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Spanish Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports Pilar Alegría announced that her nation, in conjunction with the European Union, is prepared to open discussions regarding the exclusion of “Israel” from all sports, both continental and international tournaments.
The 47-year-old Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) politician called upon the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to proactively act rather than await directives from political authorities.
Mundo Deportivo concluded that the Spanish sports minister expects all international and European sports bodies to take action soon, and not rely on politicians to intervene and take action against Israel, which continues to violate human rights and has been perpetrating massacres in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.
The Israeli military resumed bombardment of Gaza on March 18, killing thousands of Palestinians, and injuring many others, after it shattered the 2-month ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas and the deal on the exchange of Israeli captives with Palestinian abductees.
At least 53,901 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 122,593 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory.
