Barcelona’s city hall remains committed to international cooperation, even as geopolitical tensions shape its projects. The department led by the director of Global Justice and Cooperation has reiterated that ongoing efforts with Palestinian communities continue despite recent disclosures by EL PERIÓDICO of the Prensa Ibérica group, which suggest that a pause in relations with Israel could complicate two decades of work that Barcelona has dedicated to supporting the Palestinian people. The program for Gaza, in particular, continues to explore avenues for aid and collaboration, even as blockades complicate access. The director notes that there is little room for the situation to deteriorate further and believes that Israel will not impose new restrictions that would prevent cooperative actions. In the West Bank, conditions remain somewhat more stable for now, yet the municipality remains cautious and prepared for new limitations that might arise after any formal separation. The hope is that Israeli authorities will not shut doors to dialogue or to partners sharing humanitarian goals.
The mayor, Ada Colau, with the support of the Global Justice and Human Rights portfolio, has long guided Barcelona’s external actions. The municipal leadership emphasizes that these values direct engagement abroad, including in collaborations deemed controversial by some observers. They also point out that actors accused of supporting undemocratic regimes, whether Iranian, Turkish, or national governments involved in border management outsourcing, are watched closely as part of Barcelona’s accountability framework. The city’s involvement in Palestinian affairs has evolved since a peace agreement with armed groups in 2016, with Gaza receiving significant attention and funding from Barcelona’s international partners. Yet, restrictive measures imposed by Israel have made operations increasingly difficult in recent years. Two years ago the government designated six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organizations, creating a complex ecosystem for dialogue and partnership with Spanish and international counterparts. Consequently, Barcelona’s technical teams have not been able to enter Gaza, with the most recent attempt dating back to 2018. Source: EL PERIÓDICO.
Barriers to NGOs
According to the director, the crackdown on NGO work in Palestine has intensified over recent years, obscuring the role of those who advocate for human rights on the ground. He stresses that many organizations facing blockade fatigue and a sense of rupture operate under precarious conditions and limited access to democratic guarantees. The response has involved a participatory process to collect signatures in support of continued assistance, even as obstacles persist. Nevertheless, a handful of projects remain active, focusing on Gaza’s coastal development, traffic management, and rainwater collection, with coordination largely conducted via videoconferencing and occasional visits by Palestinian technicians to Barcelona.
Direct cooperation continues in the West Bank, with Nablus and Belén working to revitalize city centers through improved mobility and urban management, a testament to ongoing Spanish cooperation efforts.
Twinning with Isfahan
Colau has been openly critical of the city council’s stance toward Israel while maintaining a broader dialogue that sometimes includes suspending partnerships with other cities such as Tel Aviv and St. Petersburg. Isfahan, an Iranian cultural capital with a complex human rights record, is seen by some as a potential partner that could align with Barcelona’s values if a genuine request for collaboration emerges. The director notes that partnerships could proceed with Isfahan if there is clear interest from both sides, adding that the decision not to move forward previously was tied to the absence of a direct request from Iran or other stakeholders. Source: EL PERIÓDICO.