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Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares condemns video shared by Israel Katz

Spain's foreign minister condemned as “scandalous and disgusting” a video posted by his Israeli counterpart that suggested Hamas would be grateful to Spain amid the growing dispute between the two countries over the Gaza war.

Spain announced last week that it would recognize Palestine as a state, and in recent days two Spanish ministers have spoken of genocide in the Gaza Strip.

A short video posted by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on social media platform X on Sunday reads “Hamas: Gracias España” (“Hamas: Thank you, Spain”).

The video shows the Spanish flag and then a couple dancing to flamenco music, interspersed with footage of Hamas fighters, including people fleeing during the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel that sparked the Israeli military operation in Gaza.

Claim that the video is scandalous

“We will not engage in provocations. The video is scandalous and disgusting,” said Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares at a press conference in Brussels.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa shake hands during a joint news conference in Brussels, Belgium, May 26, 2024. (Source: REUTERS/JOHANNA GERON)

“It is a scandal because the whole world, including my colleague in Israel, knows that Spain has condemned the actions of Hamas from the very beginning. And it is disgusting that one of these symbols of Spanish culture is being used.”

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles described the conflict in the Gaza Strip on Saturday as a “true genocide,” echoing the statement by Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz, who also described the conflict as genocide last week.

Israel has firmly rejected the accusations made by South Africa before the International Court of Justice that it is committing genocide against the Palestinians, arguing that it is defending itself and fighting Hamas.

The Israeli Embassy in Madrid responded to Robles' comments in a statement published on X on Saturday.

“We regret that … Robles has supported the false and unfounded narrative of the terrorist organization Hamas. Israel is fighting in Gaza, in accordance with international law, in a war against Hamas that it neither started nor wanted, a consequence of the unprecedented massacre of October 7 last year.”

The EU, like the USA, considers Hamas a terrorist organisation.

Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, announced this week that it would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28. Israel called this a “reward for terrorism” and recalled its ambassadors from the three capitals.

In a television interview on Saturday, Robles said Madrid's recognition of Palestine was not a step against Israel but should help end the violence in the Gaza Strip.

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