Barcelona cuts ties with Israel amid war with Hamas

According to Barcelona city council’s approved declaration, the main obstacles to long-lasting peace are “the occupation and colonisation of Palestinian territories,” and the “denial of rights” to the people.

Colau said: "It is not a war, it is genocide. We must not only denounce it, but act.”

View of Tel Aviv (Photo: Alexander Maistern)[Missing Credit]

Hamas praised the move and said in a statement on Telegram: “We call on cities around the world to follow what the Barcelona city council did as a victory for humanity and the values of freedom and justice, the right of peoples to self-determination, and a rejection of the massacres of the Zionist-Nazi occupation against children and defenceless civilians.”

This is not the first time Barcelona has cut ties with Israel. In February, then-Mayor Colau suspended the city’s relationship with Israel and their twin city agreement with Tel Aviv.

Speaking in February, Lior Haiat, spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the decision “unfortunate” and “in complete contrast to the position of the majority of the residents of Barcelona and their representatives in the city council.”

He added: “The decision gives support to extremists, terrorist organisations and antisemitism, and impairs the interests of the residents of Barcelona.

“The friendship between Israel and Barcelona is long-standing, and is based on shared culture and values. Even this unfortunate decision will not damage this friendship.”

However, during elections this summer, Colau lost her position to the Collboni. He restored diplomatic ties with Israel and the twin city agreement with Tel Aviv in September.