The President of the Government of Spain stresses Spain's commitment to humanitarian assistance to alleviate the crisis in Gaza in Jordan

Amman (Jordan)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, took part in the Humanitarian Response Conference for Gaza, organised by King Abdullah II of Jordan, the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres.

The conference, which was also attended by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, aims to strengthen the international community's response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The aim is to define common measures and procedures and to identify operational and logistical needs to alleviate the situation.

The President of the Government of Spain underlined the need for urgent action to respond to Gaza, and stressed the urgency of significantly increasing humanitarian assistance and ensuring its entry into the Strip to reach the most needy population.

In this context, Pedro Sánchez announced an additional package of 16 million euros to support Palestine. Of this, 6 million euros will go to humanitarian assistance and 10 million euros will go to cooperation projects for other humanitarian organisations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Food Programme, and the United Nations Population Fund. This new contribution is in addition to the 23.5 million euros disbursed in 2024 to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

The President of the Government of Spain stressed that Spain tripled its support to Palestine in 2023, amounting to more than 50 million euros, including humanitarian and development funding, and that the commitment will continue and intensify in 2024.

During his speech at the plenary session of the Conference, Pedro Sánchez welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2735, which supports the US proposal for a ceasefire and an end to the conflict. In this regard, the president of the Government of Spain stressed that Spain has been calling for months for an immediate ceasefire, access for humanitarian aid and the release of the hostages.

In this context, he called for the defence of international law, international humanitarian law, and the rules-based international order, which is being severely undermined in the humanitarian catastrophe.

The President of the Government of Spain also referred to the precautionary measures issued by the International Court of Justice, which demand the cessation of the military offensive in Rafah and call for the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, and urged the parties to comply with them, stressing that these are legally binding provisions for all members of the international community. Finally, he shared Spain's decision to participate in the proceedings initiated by South Africa in the International Court of Justice. "International law must prevail," he argued.

Pedro Sánchez also emphasised that development aid must support the Palestinian Authority, arguing that humanitarian action, early recovery and reconstruction in Gaza are different phases of a process that must ultimately contribute to a Palestinian state and the implementation of the two-state solution.

Bilateral meetings

During his visit to Jordan, the president of the Government of Spain held bilateral meetings with several international leaders.

He met with the organisers of the Humanitarian Response Conference for Gaza; with H.M. King Abdullah II of Jordan, whom he thanked for Jordan's leadership and efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He also met with the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, with whom he discussed the mediation role his country is playing to achieve a ceasefire and put an end to the conflict; and with the Secretary General of the United Nations, to whom he conveyed Spain's support for all the work being done by the entire United Nations system in this crisis, and specifically, UNRWA, which is playing a vital role in the humanitarian response to Gaza.

The President of the Government of Spain also held a meeting with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, in his first meeting since Spain's recognition of the State of Palestine. Abbas reiterated his thanks to Sánchez for this historic decision. Both shared their conviction that this step contributes to providing a political horizon for the realisation of the two-state solution. Pedro Sánchez also held a meeting with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa.

The President of the Government of Spain also met with other regional leaders, such as the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, and the Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, who praised the work of UNIFIL on his country's southern border, currently under the command of a Spanish general. With both leaders, he discussed Spain's commitment to stability in the region.

Finally, Pedro Sánchez met with the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Robert Golob, another of the European countries that has recently recognised the State of Palestine - along with Spain, Norway and Ireland - and the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, with whom he discussed the work being done by the European Union to alleviate the catastrophic situation of the civilian population in the Strip.

Non official translation