Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that Spain will be removed from the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Kiryat Gat, escalating tensions between the two countries over Spain’s criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the wider region.
In a video statement posted on the US social media platform X on Friday, Netanyahu said Israel would not tolerate what he described as diplomatic attacks from foreign governments without consequences.
“I will not allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying a heavy price,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli leader accused Spain of defaming Israeli soldiers and taking hostile positions against Israel’s ongoing military campaigns. He confirmed that Spain’s participation in the CMCC would be terminated immediately.
The Civil-Military Coordination Center, located in Kiryat Gat in southern Israel, was established by the United States on October 17 as part of efforts to monitor and coordinate the implementation of a broader US-backed plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza. The facility brings together representatives from multiple countries involved in diplomatic, humanitarian, and security coordination related to the conflict.
Dozens of countries reportedly participate in the coordination framework, which serves as a central hub for information-sharing and operational cooperation among international partners engaged in regional stabilization efforts.
Netanyahu’s decision marks a significant deterioration in relations between Israel and Spain, which have been strained in recent years due to Madrid’s increasingly critical stance on Israeli military operations. Spain has been among European countries that have openly condemned Israel’s conduct in Gaza, called for international accountability measures, and supported diplomatic initiatives aimed at Palestinian statehood recognition.
The diplomatic rift widened further following Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state, a move that Israel strongly opposed. More recently, Spanish officials have also criticized Israeli military actions in Lebanon and Iran, while calling for sanctions and greater international pressure on Israel to halt its operations.
Israeli-Spanish relations have reportedly declined steadily over the past two years, reflecting broader divisions within the European Union over how to respond to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. While some EU members have maintained strong support for Israel’s security position, others, including Spain, have increasingly aligned themselves with calls for ceasefires, humanitarian protections, and diplomatic solutions.
Netanyahu’s latest announcement is expected to further strain Israel’s diplomatic ties with European partners at a time when international criticism of its military campaigns has intensified. Humanitarian organizations and several governments have raised concerns over civilian casualties and the expanding scope of regional hostilities.
The CMCC itself was designed as a multinational coordination platform intended to facilitate cooperation on security monitoring and post-conflict stabilization efforts. Spain’s removal from the center signals a breakdown in consensus among participating nations over the political direction of the mission and Israel’s handling of allied criticism.
While Israeli officials argue that strong diplomatic pushback is necessary to defend national interests, critics warn that such moves risk isolating Israel from key European partners and weakening broader international efforts to de-escalate ongoing conflicts in the region.
The development adds another layer of complexity to already tense Israel-Europe relations and underscores the deepening global divisions over the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.
