Tel Aviv

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday directed the removal of Spanish officials from the Gaza ceasefire coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, following criticism from Spain over Israel’s recent military actions in Lebanon.

In a strongly worded response, Netanyahu accused Spain of maligning Israeli soldiers and adopting an adversarial position toward Israel. He asserted that the country would not remain silent in the face of such criticism and confirmed that Spain’s representatives had been asked to leave the coordination facility.

He further cautioned that nations choosing to criticise Israel rather than what he described as “terrorist regimes” would not be regarded as partners in shaping the region’s future. Netanyahu also warned against what he termed “hypocrisy and hostility,” adding that Israel would respond firmly to diplomatic pressure.

The decision comes after Spain sharply condemned Israel’s strikes in Lebanon despite the announcement of a ceasefire arrangement.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, addressing the Foreign Affairs Committee, described the situation in Lebanon as extremely grave and called for an immediate halt to the attacks. He reiterated Spain’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, its government, and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Earlier, Spanish President Pedro Sanchez had also criticised the strikes, urging stronger international action. In a post on X, he called for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire framework and urged the international community, including the European Union, to respond decisively to what he described as violations of international law.

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According to The Jerusalem Post, the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), which operates under US Central Command (CENTCOM), was set up in October 2025 to facilitate and coordinate humanitarian, logistical, and security assistance to Gaza as part of a broader peace initiative.