SPAIN’s left has accused Donald Trump of treating support for Palestine as terrorism after the arrest in Ibiza of a US millionaire who donated $1 million in aid to Gaza.
The US Department of Justice is seeking the extradition of James ‘Fergie’ Chambers after Spanish authorities arrested him on Friday, the Guardian reported, over allegations he supported Hamas.
The case has sparked outrage among Spain’s left, with several members of parliament warning of a ‘growing repression by the Trump administration against the Palestinian solidarity movement.’
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In a letter signed by more than 20 MPs, the politicians called on Spain’s interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, not to grant the extradition request, arguing that doing so would undermine ‘freedom of expression, association and political participation.’
Irene Montero, a member of the left-wing Podemos party and Spain’s representative in the European Parliament, echoed the remarks in a post on X on Monday.
“Spain can’t collaborate with Trump in the persecution of solidarity with Palestine,” she wrote.
“The government should protect him and not surrender him to Netanyahu’s friends.”
Chambers is currently being held in Madrid without bail, and the indictment against him remains under seal.
Spain’s High Court has 40 days to decide whether to approve the Trump administration’s extradition request.
If the court rejects the request, the case ends there. If it approves it, the final decision rests with the Council of Ministers, a court spokesperson told the Guardian.
The indictment against Chambers remains under seal.
Speaking to the British outlet, lawyer Stanley Cohen said this was the first known case of the US seeking the extradition of one of its citizens on allegations of supporting Hamas.
The attorney, who has 40 years of experience handling terrorism cases, said: “I don’t doubt the decision was made [to seek Chambers’ extradition] because it looks good for Trump, for Aipac and for Zionist supporters.
“It’s a conscious decision to target [him] for political purposes.”
Chambers is a self-described anti-imperialist and heir to one of the wealthiest families in the US, which owns Cox Communications.
He sold around $250 million worth of stock back to his family in mid-2023 and has since funded progressive political and humanitarian causes.
These ranged from a Black community organisation to a non-profit that helps children in the Middle East.
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