Sánchez warns EU inaction on Israel risks undermining Ukraine stance
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has renewed his criticism of what he describes as the European Union’s double standard in its response to conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, warning that the bloc’s reluctance to sanction Israel damages its authority on the international stage.
Speaking on Friday, Sánchez argued that the EU’s firm support for Ukraine against Russia’s full-scale invasion is being undermined by its failure to take comparable action over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
“Something that is delegitimising us, not only in the eyes of the outside world but also in the eyes of our own societies, is this double standard, this double yardstick that Europe is using in Ukraine and the Middle East,” Sánchez said.
Spain pushes for a tougher EU response
His comments come after Spain renewed its call to suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing Israel’s military actions and the humanitarian consequences of the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The proposal, however, has faced resistance from several EU member states, including countries whose support would be essential to secure the required qualified majority.
During an informal summit in Cyprus, Sánchez urged EU leaders to take a stronger position. He referred to a previous internal review by Brussels which concluded that Israel had breached Article 2 of the Association Agreement, a clause requiring respect for human rights.
The review was published in the context of the war in Gaza, where the humanitarian situation has triggered repeated calls for sanctions against Israel. Despite those proposals, EU governments have so far failed to agree on any punitive measures.
Sánchez insisted that the EU cannot defend Ukraine’s sovereignty while remaining passive in the Middle East.
“We cannot remain united in supporting, as we should be, a people subjected to an attempted invasion and a challenge to their territorial integrity, and fail to do the same in the Middle East,” he said, referring to Lebanon, Palestine, Gaza and the West Bank.
The Spanish leader admitted that the issue continues to divide European governments. According to Sánchez, the lack of consensus weakens the EU’s political legitimacy and its ability to defend what he called “fair causes” such as Ukraine.
He also stressed that the EU was created as a peace project and must therefore defend international law consistently. Failure to do so, he warned, risks allowing “the law of the strongest” to prevail.
Regional tensions add pressure on Brussels
Sánchez linked this broader concern to recent regional escalation, including the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which he has repeatedly described as illegal. He warned that unilateral military action carries serious consequences, including loss of life, refugee displacement and economic instability.
Israel has rejected Spain’s criticism, maintaining that its military campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon are aimed at neutralising threats from Hamas and Hezbollah, both backed by Iran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah had been extended for three weeks.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who also attended the Cyprus summit, called for greater European efforts to protect Lebanon’s peace, stability and sovereignty.
European officials fear that a prolonged Israeli offensive in Lebanon could derail the government’s attempts to disarm Hezbollah and trigger a new wave of migration towards Europe.
