Pedro Sanchez has blasted Benjamin Netanyahu following Israel’s latest bombing campaign against Lebanon.
At least 112 people were killed while more than 800 were injured in the wave of air strikes, which hit southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.
Israel claimed it was targeting more than 100 Hezbollah command centres and military sites.
The Spanish prime minister said in a post on X: ‘Just today, Netanyahu launches his harshest attack against Lebanon since the offensive began.
‘His contempt for life and international law is intolerable. It’s time to speak clearly…
‘Lebanon must be included in the ceasefire.
‘The international community must condemn this new violation of international law.
‘The European Union must suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.
‘And there must be no impunity for these criminal acts.’
It comes after Israel said it would not be stopping its attacks in Lebanon as part of the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran.
Earlier on Wednesday, Spain lodged a furious protest after an Israeli unit briefly detained a Spanish UN peacekeeper in Lebanon.
Defence Minister Margarita Robles branded the incident an ‘unacceptable’ violation of international law.
The soldier, a Spanish blue helmet serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), was stopped while travelling in a logistics convoy near the border.
He had been part of a routine supply mission to support Indonesian troops stationed in the same peacekeeping operation when the incident unfolded.
According to Robles, the Spanish soldier was held by Israeli forces for less than an hour before being released.
Even so, Madrid has reacted sharply, escalating formal complaints both to Israel and the UN.
‘This is absolutely unacceptable,’ the minister said, stressing that the convoy had followed all established protocols and had been clearly identified as part of a UN mission.
She revealed there had already been tensions earlier the same day, when the convoy had initially been prevented from continuing its route.
‘We have been given assurances that those responsible for behaviour that violates international law will be sanctioned and, where appropriate, prosecuted,’ Robles added.
The incident comes amid rising tensions in the region, with Spain now stepping up diplomatic pressure for a broader ceasefire.
Robles has met with Lebanon’s ambassador to Spain, Hani Chemaitelly, and also visited the Indonesian embassy, sending a unified message calling for an immediate end to hostilities.
She urged Israel to halt its military operations in Lebanon and to accept the ceasefire framework linked to the US-Iran truce.
Israel, however, has made clear it does not consider Lebanon part of that agreement and continues its strikes in the country.
Robles also took aim at rhetoric from Donald Trump, who yesterday warned he would ‘wipe out Iranian civilisation’, in comments she said echoed ‘another era, reminiscent of the Middle Ages’.
Despite the growing risks, Spain has ruled out pulling its troops from Lebanon.
Robles admitted conditions on the ground are ‘extremely difficult’, with Spanish personnel spending long hours sheltering in bunkers due to ongoing attacks.
‘In no way are we considering withdrawal, quite the opposite,’ she said, praising the professionalism and resilience of Spanish forces deployed in the mission.
In a sign of the worsening situation, Spain will now reinforce its presence with a military medical unit.
The team will be deployed in the coming days to Marjayoun, at the Miguel de Cervantes base — a key UNIFIL position led by a Spanish general.
Their role will be to treat wounded soldiers on-site, after it became increasingly difficult to evacuate casualties to Beirut due to airspace restrictions and ongoing strikes.
