Spain distances itself from the United States—and from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, Italy, Germany…—by maintaining funding for the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA), which is being investigated after after it became known that a dozen of its workers participated in the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel.
This was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Alabres, who assured the Congress of Deputies that “we will not hate our relationship with UNRWA, although we closely follow the internal investigation and the results it may yield due to the actions of a dozen of people out of around 30,000”.
The Government made voluntary contributions to UNRWA worth €18.5 million in 2023, including €10 million approved last December, following the decision to triple cooperation and humanitarian aid to Palestine.
Last Friday, UNRWA announced the expulsion and opening of an immediate investigation of several members of the organization for their alleged participation in the Hamas terrorist attack. It was shortly afterwards when the United States announced that it was suspending funding to this UN agency, a step that other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Japan also took over the weekend. Within the EU, there has been division between partners.
Countries such as Italy, the Netherlands and Germany have announced that they will not contribute more funds to UNRWA, while France has said that it will not do so at the moment, although it did not plan any disbursement soon. In contrast, Ireland has made it clear that it has no intention of stopping funding this UN agency.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked the international community not to suspend its support for the agency, as “the alleged horrendous acts of these employees must have consequences”, but there are also “tens of thousands of people ( about 30,000)” who work for that agency and who should not be penalized. It is the same position that the highest representative of Spanish diplomacy has established this Monday morning in the Foreign Affairs Commission, where he has appeared to explain the guidelines that will guide his department this term.
In his appearance, Albares also asked for the support of all deputies for the Government’s position that demands a ceasefire and the release of the hostages held by Hamas, and proposes holding a peace conference to reach an agreement to the recognition of the Palestinian State.
