Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has awarded the Order of Civil Merit to Francesca Albanese, recognising her advocacy during Israel’s war on Gaza, which the United Nations, human rights organisations and scholars have recognised as a genocide.
Albanese has been one of the most outspoken international critics of the war, accusing Israel of genocide and war crimes against Palestinians. Over 72,500 Palestinians have been killed in the war on Gaza.
Sanchez has positioned Spain as one of the most vocal European critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza and of the US-Israel war on Iran, describing both as violations of international law.
Madrid has pushed for an EU-wide arms embargo on Israel, formally recognised a Palestinian state and refused to allow US forces to use Spanish bases for operations linked to the conflict with Iran.
