Barcelona Mayor Denied Entry to Israel After City Cuts Ties

Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni was denied entry to Israel, the Israel Population and Immigration Authority announced Friday morning. The decision comes three months after Barcelona's city council resolved to sever ties with the Israeli government. Collboni, who planned to visit Yad Vashem and the Palestinian Authority, was informed of the refusal upon submitting his entry form for a scheduled arrival Friday night.

The Immigration Authority stated, "The refusal is in accordance with the Entry to Israel Law and coordinated with the Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council."

In late May, Barcelona's city council voted to suspend relations with Israel, citing "human rights violations" in Gaza. The decision included terminating twin-city ties with Tel Aviv and halting cooperation with companies linked to the Israeli government. The council's statement demanded a permanent ceasefire and urged Israel to comply with UN resolutions, suspending ties until "international rights are restored" in Palestine.

The move followed advocacy from Catalan parties, who called for an immediate end to hostilities. Collboni's planned visit was intended to include engagements in Israel and the Palestinian territories.