Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel permanently on Wednesday in a diplomatic row between the two nations that got worse over the opposition of Spain to Israeli policies, and the situation was aggravated by the US-Israeli attacks on the Iranian government.

Last September, following a diplomatic row over Spanish actions to ban aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel through its ports or airspace over the war against Hamas in Gaza, Ambassador Ana Maria Salomon Perez was recalled to Spain.

Tuesday, Spain released a statement in its official gazette that the role of the ambassador was cancelled. The Foreign Ministry of Spain announced that its embassy in Tel Aviv will be headed by a charge d’affaires in the near future.

The embassy of Israel in Spain is also led by a charge d’affaires after Israel recalled its ambassador, Rodica Radian-Gordon, to protest when Spain declared that it would recognise a Palestinian state in May 2024.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry sources told The Times of Israel that the withdrawal of the Spanish ambassador to Tel Aviv, called home “indefinitely,” had been confirmed by the Foreign Ministry, leaving the Spanish embassy in Tel Aviv without a leader, at the same rank as the Israeli embassy in Madrid.

The action was the most recent phase in a diplomatic row between the two nations, which have long been on the verge of tapping due to the eruption of the Gaza war, which was caused by the invasion of southern Israel by the Hamas-led forces on October 7, 2023.

Relationships between Jerusalem and Madrid continued to worsen through the next two years as the government of Spain continued to voice growing anger and frustration regarding Israel because of the war in Gaza.

Madrid had banned sales and purchases of military equipment with Israel since the beginning of the war; nonetheless, last September, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared that it would establish the prohibition in law. Spain was also attacked by Sa’ar, who accused Spain of spearheading a “hostile, anti-Israel” policy and its ambassador was also recalled by Madrid.

A ceasefire brokered by the US took effect the following month, but intermittent fighting has resumed as Gaza is split into Israeli and Hamas-controlled settlements.

The situation has been worsened by US-Israeli attacks on Iran that started on February 28, and Saar accused Spain in early March of “adopting the position of tyrants” against the war.

In May 2024, shortly after Spain, Ireland and Norway declared their intention to recognise a Palestinian state, Israel summoned the ambassadors of said countries, such as Perez, to view a video showing Hamas atrocities of the October 7 attack.