Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on the decision to remove Spain from the Civil-Military Coordination Center in a statement posted on the social media account of the American company X.
Claiming that Spain had defamed the Israeli army, Netanyahu said, “Therefore, after Spain repeatedly chose to stand against Israel, I instructed today that Spanish representatives be removed from the coordination center in Kiryat Gat.”
Describing Spain’s stance as “hostility,” Netanyahu said that no country would be allowed to “wage a diplomatic war” against Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had stated earlier today that the decision was taken because of what he called the Spanish government’s “anti-Israel stance.”
The Civil-Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat was established in October 2025 by the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) as part of a 20-point peace plan for Gaza.
Spain’s decision to immediately reopen its embassy in Tehran following the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran had also triggered a new dispute with Israel.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that the decision to reopen the Embassy in Tehran immediately was taken “in light of the two-week ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran, and with the aim of encouraging this peace effort from both sides,” while Israeli Foreign Minister Saar sharply criticized the move.
Amid the diplomatic crisis between the two countries over the Spanish government’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine and its support for Gaza, Israel recalled its ambassador to Madrid in May 2024, while Spain recalled its ambassador to Tel Aviv in September 2025.
At present, the highest level of diplomatic representation between the two countries remains at the chargé d’affaires level.
