Overview

• At a joint appearance in Madrid, Pedro Sánchez condemned Israel’s tactics as indiscriminate and Friedrich Merz rejected describing the war as genocide while warning against antisemitism.
• Both leaders pressed Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the ground invasion and emphasized humanitarian access, yet Germany ruled out near-term recognition of Palestine that Spain already granted.
• Germany has suspended weapons exports that could be used in Gaza and the Netherlands canceled naval deliveries, while La Razón reports Spain is finalizing a decree to formalize an arms embargo.
• Pro-Palestine rallies drew about 6,500 people in Barcelona and roughly 2,000 in Madrid, with demonstrators backing sanctions and the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying aid toward Gaza.
• Teacher networks announced new encierros demanding an embargo and decried verbal orders restricting pro-Palestine symbols in Madrid schools, which Isabel Díaz Ayuso denies issuing as the state prosecutor opened a genocide investigation.