The Spanish government did not align with the European Commission’s move to suspend financial aid to Palestine in response to Hamas’ assaults on Israel. Reports from TASS indicate that the stance emerged from sources within Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underscoring a diplomatic disconnect between Madrid and the EU’s leadership on this issue.
Sources inside the agency conveyed that European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi’s decision to halt EU cooperation with Palestine stirred discontent within the Spanish government. The nascent friction surfaced in discussions between Madrid and Brussels as officials weighed the political and humanitarian implications of funding pauses amid the escalating conflict, drawing attention to the varied national responses within the bloc.
According to the same interlocutors, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Manuel Albares, during a call with the European Commissioner, expressed disagreement with the suspension of funding. This dialogue highlighted the delicate balance European capitals strive to strike between security concerns, regional stability, and commitments to development projects in Palestinian territories.
As reported by TASS, several EU foreign ministers appeared to be unaware of the European Commission’s unilateral initiative, suggesting a possible gap between Commission plan and member state diplomacy. The episode raises questions about consensus within the EU on how to respond to rapid escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and how to coordinate aid strategies during emergencies.
Oliver Varhelyi, who previously led the portfolio for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy, stated that the EU had suspended all payments to Palestinians and was reviewing joint projects in light of the latest flare-up in conflicts with Israel. He noted that the scale of violence against Israel and its citizens had reached a turning point, and that the European Commission — the bloc’s largest donor to Palestinian development efforts — was examining a portfolio of projects valued at more than €691 million. The commissioner emphasized the need to reassess development assistance in the context of heightened insecurity and public safety concerns for all involved. This stance reflects the EU’s broader debate about how aid can be delivered effectively without inadvertently supporting factions or actions that undermine peace prospects.
Previously, Germany paused funding for several Palestinian development initiatives, adding to the chorus of European states reconsidering aid amid the volatile regional dynamics. The evolving situation illustrates how strategic funding decisions are interwoven with security policies, diplomatic signaling, and long-standing commitments to humanitarian relief in the Middle East, all within the framework of EU governance and member state sovereignty. The dialogue continues as Brussels evaluates how best to safeguard civilians, promote stability, and maintain a coherent approach to international aid in a region where every development project carries significant political and strategic weight .