Israel summoned Spain's ambassador for a reprimand and recalled its own envoy from Madrid for consultations after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Thursday that he doubted Israel was respecting international humanitarian law in the Gaza Strip. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he instructed his foreign minister to call in Spain's ambassador for a reprimand "after the shameful statement by the Spanish prime minister on the same day that Hamas terrorists are murdering Israelis in our capital Jerusalem."

Earlier on Thursday, Sanchez said during an interview with Spanish state-owned broadcaster TVE that he doubts Israel is respecting international humanitarian law, given the number of casualties among civilians in Gaza. "What we are seeing in Gaza is not acceptable," he added.