Spain calls on EU to immediately suspend partnership agreement with Israel

CAIRO – 1 May 2026: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called on the European Union on Thursday to immediately suspend its partnership agreement with Israel.

The call was made in a post on the "X" platform following an Israeli attack on the "Global Freedom Flotilla," which was attempting to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver vital humanitarian aid.

Sánchez stated, "Israel has once again violated international law by attacking a civilian flotilla in waters that do not belong to it."

He added, "Our government is doing everything necessary to protect and assist the detained Spaniards, but this is not enough. The European Union must now suspend the partnership agreement with Israel and demand that Netanyahu respect the Law of the Sea."

The EU-Israel Association Agreement, the fundamental legal framework for relations between the two sides, was signed in Brussels on November 20, 1995, and entered into force on June 1, 2000.

The agreement aims to establish a gradual free-trade area between the EU and Israel while promoting economic, trade, technological, and scientific cooperation, as well as providing a regular framework for political dialogue.

Article 2 of the agreement stipulates that relations between the two parties are based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which are considered a fundamental element of the agreement.

On Sunday, the "Spring 2026 Mission" of the "Global Resilience Flotilla"—aiming to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians—set sail from the Italian island of Sicily after completing its final preparations.

On Wednesday evening, the Israeli military launched an attack in international waters off the coast of Crete, targeting boats carrying activists.

According to information provided earlier by flotilla officials, the vessels carried 345 participants from 39 countries, including Turkish citizens.

Officials added that the Israeli military seized 21 boats during the operation, while 17 boats managed to enter Greek territorial waters, and 14 others continued sailing toward those waters.