Spain will contribute an additional humanitarian aid package of 20 million euros to UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees. The announcement was made in Madrid by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, Jose Manuel Albares, after meeting with UNRWA’s Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini. The funds will be channeled through Spain’s aid agency, AECID, and will join the 3.5 million euros already approved by the Council of Ministers, which Albares said would reach UNRWA in the coming days.
The initiative aims to address the food, education, and health needs of nearly six million Palestinian refugees, with a focus on Gaza where the minister noted a dramatic food shortage and mounting hardship.
The money will be disbursed as a one-off payment, with processing expected to take four to six weeks. Beyond the financial support, Lazzarini described the gesture as a signal to other countries to resume assistance, praising Spain for leading by example amid what he called an artificial famine crisis that is being driven by human factors.
Gaza faces an unprecedented humanitarian crisis following extensive destruction across the enclave, including damage to bread factories and agricultural land. About 2.2 million Palestinians are confronting severe food and water shortages due to the total blockade, with reports from the Gaza health ministry noting more than 20 children have died from hunger and dehydration in Gaza.
UNRWA remains the principal body responsible for the welfare of Palestinian refugees displaced by wars with Israel in Jordan (2.4 million), Syria (580,000), Lebanon (487,000), the West Bank (900,000), and Gaza (1.6 million). The UN agency supports six million Palestinians, of whom three out of four live outside Palestine.
In 2023, Spain donated a total of 19.5 million euros to UNRWA, according to diplomatic sources. On December 5, the Council of Ministers approved a 10 million euro contribution for UNRWA amid the Gaza humanitarian situation. Autonomies also contribute; the Valencian Community, governed by the PP, announced plans to suspend its 2.5 million euro aid, though later clarified that it would wait for a UN audit in July before taking further steps.
Suspension of Aid by Several Countries
Countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, among others, paused aid to UNRWA on January 26 following accusations against UNRWA workers by Israel related to involvement in Hamas attacks. Israel has since attempted to expand the number of Palestinians allegedly involved, without presenting conclusory proof. U.S. intelligence services have voiced doubts about the dossiers presented by Tel Aviv. Canada, which had halted aid as a precaution, has since resumed funding.
The European Commission announced last week that it would disburse 50 million euros next week from the annual 82 million euro commitment to UNRWA, acknowledging steps taken by the agency to clarify Israel’s concerns about a handful of employees implicated in Hamas attacks on October 7.
No Evidence Shown
The UNRWA Commissioner-General, Philippe Lazzarini, warned on Thursday that the accusations of collaboration with Hamas presented to UNRWA amounted to a “campaign to dismantle” the agency by Israel and warned that such claims would have serious consequences if not carefully examined. He noted that Israeli government officials have equated Gaza with Hamas, the UN with Hamas, and UNRWA with Hamas, a framing he described as dehumanizing Gaza, a region that was vibrant and resilient prior to the conflict.
During a speech at the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Spanish Congress, Lazzarini stressed that after Israeli Defense Ministry allegations that several UNRWA workers participated in the October 7 attack, the agency opened an investigation to assess control mechanisms over staff neutrality and potential political ties.
On the matter of Vox, Lazzarini said that beyond verbal accusations, no evidence had been presented by Israel, even after requests for cooperation. In a meeting with deputies from multiple political groups, excluding Vox, he expressed gratitude for Spain’s support of the Palestinian cause and the agency’s work, noting a humanitarian situation in Gaza characterized by widespread hunger, extensive destruction, and civil resilience under duress.
Regarding UNRWA’s future, Lazzarini defended the agency as a guarantor of essential public services and repeated his message from the UN General Assembly: UNRWA began as a temporary body, and its longevity will depend on political steps toward a Palestinian government and health and education reforms that enable a transfer of responsibilities.