Spain has formally dismissed its ambassador to Israel, further degrading poor relations after recalling her six months ago in a spat over the Gaza war, according to a decree released Wednesday.
Ana Maria Salomon was officially relieved of her duties on Tuesday at the proposal of Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, in a decree signed by King Felipe VI and published in the official state journal.
She was recalled from Tel Aviv in September after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez unveiled measures aimed at stopping what he called “genocide” in Gaza, where Israel fought a devastating war following the 2023 attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas.
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Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar then accused Sánchez of antisemitism and barred two of his ministers from entry, plunging already frayed ties to new depths.
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Israel withdrew its ambassador to Madrid in 2024 after Spain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood and has since been represented by a charge d’affaires.
Sánchez, one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s war in Gaza, has also opposed the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran launched on February 28.
