The Republican lawmaker announced his decision in a letter to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The move underscores growing strains among Western allies over the Middle East conflict and sharply divergent views on Israeli military operations.
Giménez accused Spain’s government of waging what he described as a “hostile crusade” against Israel at a time when the country faces threats from Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. He charged that Madrid had moved beyond legitimate policy disagreement into antisemitic rhetoric.
“Spain has normalized rhetoric that crosses the line from legitimate policy disagreement into raw antisemitism,” Giménez wrote. He said he could no longer remain in a caucus meant to celebrate bilateral friendship while Spain’s government, in his view, undermined democratic principles.
The congressman specifically condemned Spain’s reported ban on members of the Israel Defense Forces and certain Israeli officials from entering the country. He called the policy “unprecedented and shameful,” arguing it unfairly targeted Israeli military personnel while appearing to legitimize terrorist organizations.
Giménez also objected to Spain’s restrictions on military cooperation with Israel, including arms embargoes and limits on defense-related transportation. These steps, he contended, placed Spain “firmly on the wrong side of the global fight for freedom.”
A Cuban-American lawmaker with a long record of supporting closer U.S.-Spain ties, Giménez stressed that the caucus was created to strengthen relations grounded in shared democratic values. He said the Sánchez government no longer upholds those values. “I did not make this decision lightly,” he wrote, referencing his career-long efforts to build the bilateral relationship.
The resignation reflects wider divisions among Western governments over Israel’s conduct in its war with Hamas. Several European nations have adopted more critical positions on Israeli military operations in recent months. Spain has been among the more assertive, with its supporters arguing the measures address humanitarian concerns and uphold international law. The disagreement highlights deepening fractures within the transatlantic alliance over how to balance support for Israel’s security with criticism of its wartime policies.
