Spain’s prime minister, Pedro-Sánchez, has urged sports bodies worldwide to bar Israel from international competitions for as long as its “barbarism” in Gaza continues, warning that high-profile events must not be used to “whitewash” its offensive.

His remarks came on Monday, a day after mass pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid forced the abrupt cancellation of the final stage of La Vuelta, Spain’s premier cycling race. Organizers scrapped the podium ceremony as police reported 22 officers injured and two arrests amid clashes along the route.

Sánchez, who expressed “deep admiration” for peaceful demonstrators, said the debate over Israel’s place in global sport should “spread to all corners of the world.”

He has previously criticized “double standards” on Ukraine and Gaza, and earlier called for Israel’s exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest.

Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon-Sa’ar, took issue with Sánchez’s comments, alleging they encouraged unrest and referring to his government as “a disgrace to Spain.”

This comes amid Israel’s nearly two-year war in Gaza, where local authorities report almost 65,000 Palestinian deaths since October-2023.