Spain Permanently Withdraws Israel Ambassador

Spain permanently withdrew its ambassador to Israel on Tuesday, March 11, 2026, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two nations. This action follows Spain's opposition to the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran and its earlier measures banning weapons shipments to Israel through Spanish ports and airspace.

The ambassador was initially recalled to Spain in September 2025 amidst a diplomatic row concerning Spain's stance on Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which commenced in October 2023. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar had previously denounced Spain's actions as antisemitic. Spain's official gazette published the termination of the ambassador's position, and the Spanish Foreign Ministry stated that the embassy in Tel Aviv will be led by a charge d'affaires indefinitely.

This move further strains relations, which have been tense since Israel's Gaza offensive. Israel's embassy in Spain has also been run by a charge d'affaires since May 2025, after Israel recalled its ambassador in protest of Spain's recognition of a Palestinian state. Tensions intensified following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, with Sa'ar accusing Spain in early March of "standing with tyrants" for opposing the conflict.