Spain has announced that it will no longer allow US military aircraft and vessels carrying weapons, ammunition, or equipment bound for Israel to pass through its bases at Rota (Cádiz) and Morón de la Frontera (Seville).

Sources familiar with the matter stressed that the two facilities are sovereign Spanish bases under Spanish command, and that all activity requires Madrid’s authorization. “Rota and Morón are not a backdoor,” the sources said, as reported by Spanish media.The decision comes at a time when the US continues to provide the majority of weaponry used in the Zionist regime’s genocidal war on Gaza, where more than 66,000 people have been killed so far.

Although Spanish officials have kept an ambiguous public stance, they made clear that controversial shipments, such as arms destined for Israel, are subject to restrictions. Officials emphasized that attempts to conceal such deliveries would undermine trust and are practically impossible given the scale of US arms transfers.

Earlier this year, for example, the delivery of six F-35 fighter jets to the Zionist regime avoided Spanish bases and instead rerouted through the Azores before crossing the Strait of Gibraltar.

Spain’s defense cooperation agreement with the US, first signed in 1988 and amended several times, grants Washington conditional access to Spanish bases. While some US aircraft stationed permanently in Spain enjoy freedom of movement, other flights must request prior authorization. The treaty explicitly excludes shipments considered “controversial” for Spain, which require case-by-case approval.

The same restrictions apply to naval operations, where port calls must be requested in advance. Nuclear weapons remain strictly prohibited under Spanish law.

The US State Department recently criticized nine measures taken by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government to increase pressure on the Zionist regime, including the denial of Spanish airspace for flights carrying defense material. Washington warned that such restrictions could “limit American military operations.”

Despite US objections, Madrid has reaffirmed its right to block authorizations for shipments it deems politically sensitive, underscoring growing European pressure on the Zionist regime over its ongoing massacres in Gaza.

"Our government is in constant communication with the US authorities, working to prevent weapons used against innocent Palestinians from reaching Israel," said Spanish Justice Minister Félix Bolaños in his statement on the matter.

Last week, the Spanish government issued a royal decree completely banning the supply of weapons to the Zionist regime, describing this step as "a fight against genocide in Gaza and support for the Palestinian people." The decree also prohibits the import of products from illegal settlements under Zionist occupation and bans advertisements for such products. (ILKHA)