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Spain's King Felipe VI on Tuesday denounced the "unspeakable suffering" of hundreds of thousands of Gazans under Israeli bombardment in the Palestinian territory, in a rare political intervention."The latest episode in this conflict... has degenerated into an unbearable humanitarian crisis, the unspeakable suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent people and the total devastation of Gaza," the monarch said during a visit to Egypt.Felipe, who rarely speaks out on international issues, noted his trip "is taking place at a turbulent and tragic time for the region".The Spanish government, which recognised the State of Palestine in May 2024, has become one of Israel's fiercest critics in Europe.On Sunday, the final stage of the Vuelta cycling race was cancelled because of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that saw some 100,000 people take to the streets of Madrid, according to local authorities.Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez later expressed his "deep admiration" for the protesters, while also suggesting excluding Israel from sports competitions "as long as the barbarity continues" in Gaza.Israel has not had an ambassador in Madrid since 2024.Last week, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel amid heated exchanges after Sanchez's government announced measures aimed at stopping "the genocide in Gaza".

Spain on Monday banned ships and aircraft carrying weapons to Israel from calling at Spanish ports or entering its airspace due to Israel's military offensive in Gaza, measures the Israeli foreign minister denounced as antisemitic.Spain, which recognised a Palestinian state in May 2024 and has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip, responded to Gideon Saar's comments by summoning its ambassador in Tel Aviv back for consultations.On top of the ban on ships and aircraft delivering weapons or military-grade jet fuel to Israel, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government said it would not allow anyone who has participated directly in "genocide" in Gaza to enter Spain.Israel launched its assault on the Gaza Strip in October, 2023, after fighters from Hamas attacked Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 hostages.Spain's Foreign Ministry said that Sanchez's measures were in line with public sentiment in Spain and reflected Madrid's support for peace, human rights and international law.It said Spain was committed to fighting antisemitism, pointing to the granting of Spanish citizenship to 72,000 Sephardic Jews - descendants of those expelled from the Iberian Peninsula in the 15th century.