"I do believe that it is urgent that, in light of everything that is happening in the Middle East, the international community stops exporting weapons to the government of Israel," he told reporters.

"This is an appeal that I will make... to the entire international community," he said, adding that it was important "not to contribute in one way or another to the escalation of violence and to the war and its expansion in Gaza, the West Bank or, in this case, to Lebanon."

His comments reflect those of French President Emmanuel Macron, who said countries should stop delivering weapons to fight in Gaza -- prompting outrage from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Sanchez is one of the most outspoken critics among European Union leaders of Israel's response to the deadly Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.

He described Israel's military offensives in Lebanon on Wednesday as an "invasion", saying that the international community had to act.