Renowned Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar has called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to sever all diplomatic, commercial, and political ties with Israel in protest against the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.

The Oscar-winning director, known for All About My Mother and The Skin I Live In, described Israel’s military operations as a “genocide” and urged Spain to lead by example in pressuring European nations to follow suit.

“I ask our government to sever diplomatic, commercial and all types of relations with the State of Israel as a sign of repulsion against the genocide it is committing against the people of Gaza before the eyes of the entire world,” Almodóvar said in a video posted on Instagram by his production company, El Deseo.

Almodóvar has consistently stood with Palestinian victims. In May, he joined over 350 international actors, directors, and producers in condemning Israel’s killing of 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassona, calling for an end to global silence in the face of mass atrocities in Gaza. Last year, he joined 250 Spanish cultural figures urging the government to impose a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel, emphasizing that “history will judge us by our actions at critical moments like this.”

Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine in May 2024, a milestone hailed as a statement of solidarity with Palestinians. Despite Prime Minister Sánchez acknowledging Gaza’s “catastrophic situation of genocide” in June 2025, Spain has yet to take meaningful action against Israel’s ongoing crimes.

Since October 7, 2023, UN human rights experts have repeatedly stated that Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza amount to genocide, a conclusion the International Court of Justice deemed plausible. Israel continues to reject these claims, framing its operations as self-defense.

Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza have reached dire levels. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned on August 22 that Gaza City is facing famine, which is expected to spread across the territory unless a ceasefire is enforced and humanitarian aid is allowed into the enclave.

Almodóvar’s plea to Spain highlights the urgent need for global leaders to take a principled stance, prioritizing Palestinian lives and pressuring Israel to end its siege and attacks. (ILKHA)