AFP
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The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, announced that Spain will mobilize an additional package of 16 million euros this year in 2024 “in support of Palestine.”
The conference, organized by Jordan, Egypt and the United Nations, aims to agree on “practical steps” for the delivery of aid “immediately, adequately and sustainably” to Gaza.
During his speech, Sánchez assured that “the situation is more serious than ever” in Gaza, which is why he proposed significantly increasing humanitarian aid and the flows of this aid to “guarantee” that it arrives.
“We need to maintain or even increase our support for UNRWA (United Nations Agency for Palestinian Refugees), which must operate fully in Gaza. Their work is essential more than ever, and even more than before,” he said.
Sánchez recalled that, in 2023, Spain – which officially recognizes Palestine as a State – tripled its support for the Palestinian territories, reaching a figure of 50 million euros, including humanitarian aid and development financing.
Sánchez: “The Palestinian State is the best guarantee of security for Israel”
In this framework, he also asked to pressure Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas – classified as a terrorist organization by the European Union and the United States – to reach a truce.
“Now, we call on Hamas and Israel to act responsibly and take advantage of this new opportunity they have, which is the result of the endless efforts of the United States, Qatar and Egypt. We must increase the pressure for a ceasefire to be agreed “said the President of the Spanish Government.
In addition, Sánchez asked to “defend compliance with international law” and demanded that the parties must comply with the provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice, which calls for stopping the military offensive on the Palestinian town of Rafah, in the extreme south of the enclave and border with Egypt, as well as the unhindered supply of humanitarian aid.
Additionally, Sánchez assured that development aid “should also support the Palestinian Authority”, since the reconstruction of Gaza, humanitarian action and a prompt recovery of the enclave are actions that “will contribute to a Palestinian State and the implementation of the solution of the two States”.
The President of the Spanish Government also recalled that two weeks ago his country recognized the State of Palestine along with Ireland and Norway. “It is not a symbolic gesture. And it is not essentially against Israel. The Palestinian state is the best guarantee of security for Israel and for the region,” he insisted.
Original article on DW
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