Spain has expanded a policy framework targeting Israel-related products and activities, including prohibiting both the sale and purchase of weapons linked to Israel and banning advertising for goods produced in Israeli settlements or occupied territories.

In a broader move, Madrid has already banned imports from illegal Israeli settlements and tightened weapons exports to or from Israel, signaling a tightening stance across multiple fronts.

Spanish authorities bar ships and aircraft carrying weapons destined for Israel from entering ports or airspace, and will refuse entry to individuals implicated in atrocities in Gaza.

The investigation draws on government analysis and sources like a UN report by special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, which cites hundreds of settlements and suggests economic benefits from occupation.

Madrid argues that advertising accommodations in occupied territories normalizes a colonial system considered illegal under international law and helps sustain it.

Pressure from labor unions and NGOs targets platforms such as Airbnb, Booking, Expedia, and Tripadvisor for listing settlements as Israeli destinations.

Non-compliance with these directives could trigger further government action, though specific penalties have not been disclosed.

International law and UN positions deem Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal, with the ICJ in 2024 calling for removal of settlements.

Reported casualties in Gaza have exceeded 71,000 Palestinians killed under the ongoing conflict, reflecting the human cost that motivates policy action.

Failure to remove such listings may prompt additional measures under Spain’s Royal Decree-Law on urgent actions against genocide in Gaza and related laws.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has criticized the international community for inaction or complicity regarding Israeli actions while advancing Spain’s Gaza-focused agenda.

Amnesty International and other NGOs have urged platforms to remove listings for accommodations in Palestinian territories, criticizing the normalization of settlements.