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Spain’s renowned steel manufacturing company, Sidenor, has announced the cessation of all trade with Israel, according to local media reports. Spain is one of the most vocal critics in Europe of Israel’s military actions, and its government has been encouraging companies to sever commercial ties with the country.
On Wednesday (July 2), the news agency Anadolu reported this development. Last month, the Irish publication *The Ditch* revealed that from August 2023, Sidenor exported 1,207 tons of steel bars to the Israeli weapons manufacturer IMI Systems over a 10-month period. However, Sidenor, one of Europe’s largest steel producers based in the Basque region, has now declared that it will no longer sell steel products to Israel. According to Spanish media outlet *Cadena Ser*, the financial impact of halting trade with Israel will be minimal for Sidenor, as less than 0.5% of the company’s total sales come from the Israeli market. Sidenor stated that this decision aligns with the Spanish government’s call for companies to cut commercial ties with Israel. Spain’s Minister of Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, remarked that “Sidenor has yielded to social pressure.” In a post on the social media platform Bluesky, he added, “We are still awaiting a response from the head of Spain’s business organization to the government’s clear directive to sever all business ties with those involved in Israel’s occupation, apartheid, and genocide of the Palestinian people.” The Spanish government has halted arms exports to Israel since the onset of its attacks on Gaza, though investigations have shown that some pre-existing contracts remain active. Spain is among the strongest critics of Israel’s military actions in Europe. The aggression in Gaza has resulted in over 56,600 deaths and left millions facing extreme hunger and poverty. In 2023, Spain recognized Palestine as a state. This week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez sharply criticized the European Union, stating that despite clear evidence of human rights violations by Israel, the EU has failed to suspend its trade agreement with the country, calling it regrettable.
