Should Israel be barred from international events?
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Spanish Vuelta finale cancelled as police clash with pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid
The Grand Tour event has this year turned into a diplomatic battleground, with multiple days of racing cut short or interrupted as pro-Palestinian protests have taken place.
The finale of Spain's version of the Tour de France has been cancelled midway through after clashes between police and pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid.
The Spanish Vuelta's 104km-long last leg was first paused at around 6.20pm local time (5.20pm in the UK) as police attempted to disperse the demonstrators.
Some protesters carrying anti-Israel banners had thrown barriers to block where the cyclists were supposed to pass on a finishing circuit for the mostly ceremonial ride into the Spanish capital.
The race did briefly resume a short while later, but organisers were ultimately forced to call the finale off.
Organisers said: "For security reasons, stage 21 of La Vuelta has been ended early. There will be no podium ceremony.
"The race has been officially ended and Jonas Vingegaard is the winner."
Protesters carrying Palestinian flags jeered as the teams' support cars passed by them along the route
The Vuelta sees over 180 cyclists spend three weeks pedalling 3,100km through the country's backroads - and the Grand Tour event has this year turned into a diplomatic battleground.
More than 1,500 police officers were deployed for the final stage of the race, as officials anticipated protests.
Authorities said the heavy police presence would be deployed for the final stage on Sunday, to add to the 130 officers already traveling with the race.
Horse-riding police, officers in riot gear and military-type trucks were seen near the route.
Some 6,000 protesters were expected in Madrid, along with around 50,000 fans.
Multiple stages of the Vuelta have been disrupted by protests against the presence of the Israeli-owned team Premier Tech, which earlier in the race removed the team name from its cyclists' uniforms.
Protesters have often waved Palestinian flags along the race route. During one stage, a demonstrator with a flag tried to run onto the road ahead of two riders, causing them to crash.
Of the 10 days of racing up Sunday, six were cut short or interrupted with more than 20 people being detained by police.
The route of the final stage was cut short by 5km over traffic concerns. Previous stages were altered because of safety concerns over the protests.
Spaniards are largely sympathetic to the Palestinian cause and Spain's left-wing government is also highly critical of Israel's military invasion into Gaza.
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez joined Ireland and Norway in recognizing a Palestinian state last year.
In June last year, Spain became the first European country to ask a United Nations court for permission to join South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide.
Israel has denied genocide and defended its actions in Gaza, accusing Spain of standing with Hamas.
The Vuelta's winner Vingegaard, from the Visma-Lease a Bike team, had extended his lead over Joao Almeida before the final leg.
The UK's Tom Pidcock finished in third place.
What are your opinions on what occurred?
Spanish PM calls for Israel to be barred from international sport
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from international sports competitions over its actions in Gaza.
"Israel cannot continue to use any international platform to whitewash its image," he told elected representatives of his Socialist Workers' Party.
He said Israel should be treated in the same way as Russia over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
On Sunday, Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar called the Spanish prime minister "a disgrace" and accused him of inciting pro-Palestinian protests in Madrid, which caused the cancellation of the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race, in which an Israeli team was competing.
Earlier in the day, Sánchez had said that previous protests during the three-week race had shown that Spain "shines as an example, with pride" on the Gaza issue.
Several Spanish government ministers also praised the final stage protest, which involved about 100,000 people, according to official figures.
"It's a relief to me that thousands and thousands of people mobilise against that genocide, because it is genocide and it has no other name," said Óscar López, the minister of digital transformation.
Israel has regularly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide and says they are justified as a means of self-defence.
Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun also said Israel should not take part in the next Eurovision Song Contest, repeating calls made by Sánchez earlier this year.
"We have to make sure that Israel does not take part in the next Eurovision," Urtasun said.
The public broadcasters of Ireland and the Netherlands have already said they will not participate if Israel is included in the contest, because of the "appalling" and "severe" loss of lives and human suffering in Gaza.
The relationship between Israel and Spain has been fragile since late 2023, when Sánchez expressed concerns about civilian deaths in Gaza and some members of his government at the time called for diplomatic relations to be severed.
In 2024, Spain joined Norway and Ireland in acknowledging a Palestinian state and last week, Sánchez accused Israel of genocide and announced a series of measures against it, including an arms embargo.
Israel's Saar responded by accusing Sanchez's administration of being antisemitic and of using "wild and hateful rhetoric".
A recent poll by the Elcano Royal Institute think tank indicated at least 82% of Spaniards believe genocide is being committed in Gaza.
Two days after Sánchez's announcement, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, called for a suspension of free trade and bilateral support with Israel, as she spoke of the "man-made famine" in Gaza.
Von der Leyen also lamented what she called Europe's "painful" inability to find an adequate response to Israel's actions.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied starvation is taking place in Gaza and has said that where there is hunger, it is the fault of aid agencies and Hamas.
Israel has accused international aid agencies like the UN of not picking up aid waiting at Gaza's border, pointing to the hundreds of trucks sitting idle.
In August, the UN-backed food monitor, the IPC, confirmed that famine was taking place in parts of Gaza. Israel is accused of causing the famine through ongoing restrictions on food and medical aid entering the territory.
Israel controls all border crossings into the Gaza Strip, and as the occupying power bears responsibility for protecting civilian life under international law, which includes the prevention of starvation.
Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 64,871 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Do you agree that Israel should be barred from international sporting events? Why or why not?
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