Spain has authorised the extradition process against US citizen James “Fergie” Chambers to continue to the country’s courts after he was arrested in Ibiza in July at the request of US authorities.

The decision does not mean that Chambers will be extradited to the United States.

The Spanish Government has described its decision as a procedural step, with the Audiencia Nacional now expected to examine the US extradition request before a final decision is made.

Arrested in Ibiza in July

Chambers, 41, was arrested in Ibiza on 10 July 2026 while he was on the island with his wife, actress and producer Stella Schnabel.

Spanish media reported that the couple had been visiting Ibiza as they considered relocating to the island and were looking at schools for their son.

Chambers was subsequently transferred to Madrid, where he remains in pre-trial detention.

The arrest followed an international request from the United States.

What does the United States allege?

The US authorities are seeking Chambers' extradition in connection with allegations including money laundering and alleged financial support for Hamas.

The precise US case against Chambers has not been publicly detailed by the US Department of Justice, according to Reuters.

Spanish reporting based on the international arrest documentation has reported allegations involving a $7.5 million transfer to Tunisia, as well as allegations concerning disorderly conduct and related offences.

These remain allegations. Chambers has not been convicted of the offences and his legal team disputes the US case.

Defence says the case is politically motivated

Chambers' lawyers argue that the extradition request is connected to his political views and his support for Palestinian causes.

His legal team says money provided by Chambers was intended for humanitarian and other projects and denies that he knowingly financed Hamas.

His lawyer, former Spanish National Court judge Baltasar Garzón, has described the case as politically motivated and has also filed an asylum application in Spain.

The Spanish legal framework allows extradition to be refused in circumstances involving political persecution or where an extradition request is considered to have been made for reasons including a person's political opinions.

The courts will now have to examine the request and the arguments presented by both sides.

Spain has not made a final extradition decision

The Spanish Government's decision on 22 September allows the extradition request to move forward.

Government spokesperson and minister Elma Saiz stressed that the decision was procedural and that the Audiencia Nacional must now consider the case.

If the judicial process allows the request to proceed, the Government will have a further decision to make.

This means the current position is not an approval of Chambers' extradition to the United States.

Supporters have called for the case to be stopped

The case has attracted international attention because of Chambers' political activism and support for Palestinian causes.

Around 150 public figures have signed a letter calling on Spain not to proceed with the extradition, including actor Richard Gere, climate activist Greta Thunberg and writer Fatima Bhutto, according to Reuters.

Spain's coalition partner Sumar has also opposed moving forward with the extradition request, while Podemos has called for it to be rejected.

These are political positions and do not determine the outcome of the judicial process.

A case that began in Ibiza

For Ibiza, the case began on 10 July when Chambers was arrested on the island following the US request.

His detention subsequently became part of a wider international debate involving extradition law, political activism and allegations concerning financial support for organisations linked to Hamas.

The next stage will take place through Spain's judicial system.

A date for the Audiencia Nacional hearing is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

What happens next?

The Audiencia Nacional will examine the US extradition request and the arguments presented by the defence.

Only after that process will the Spanish Government be in a position to make its final decision on extradition, assuming the case reaches that stage.

For now, Chambers remains in pre-trial detention in Madrid, while the extradition proceedings continue in Spain.

The decision announced this week therefore represents the continuation of the case, not a decision to extradite him.