Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports competitions over its actions in Gaza.
Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image, he told elected representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party.
He said Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the Spanish prime minister a disgrace and accused him of inciting pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid, which caused the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, in which an Israeli team was competing.
Earlier in the day, Sánchez had said that previous protests during the three-week race had shown that Spain shines as an example, with pride on the Gaza issue.
Several Spanish government ministers also praised the final stage protest, which involved about 100,000 people, according to official figures.
Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun said Israel should not take part in the next Eurovision Song Contest, repeating calls made by Sánchez earlier this year.
Public broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands have expressed intentions to boycott the Eurovision if Israel is included, citing the severe human suffering in Gaza.
The relationship between Israel and Spain has been fragile, with Sánchez's government acknowledging a Palestinian state in 2024 and imposing measures against Israel, including an arms embargo.
A recent poll indicated that at least 82% of Spaniards perceive genocide as occurring in Gaza, reflecting a significant shift in public opinion as well as international dynamics involving the European Commission.
Israel continues to deny accusations of genocide and has stated its military actions serve the purpose of self-defense. The ongoing conflict has raised questions about the role of international organizations and nations in addressing humanitarian crises.
