Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on Monday for Israel to be barred from international sport over the Gaza war, as it emerged his government had also canceled an $825 million military contract with Israel. According to AP, Sanchez expressed “deep admiration” for the thousands of protesters who forced the halt of the final stage of the Vuelta a España, one of the world’s biggest cycling races, in Spain on Sunday.

He said Israel should be penalized just as Russia was over its invasion of Ukraine. Acclaimed Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar participated in a protest in Madrid on Monday against the deaths of children in Gaza.

The demonstration, organized by the Spanish artists’ guild, featured participants reading out the names of children killed during Israel’s military action in Gaza. Almodovar, known for his vocal support of Gaza, previously called on the Spanish government in August to sever diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, labeling the situation as a ‘genocide’.