Spain announces a contribution of 75 million euros in its first bilateral summit with Palestine

Eduardo González The first intergovernmental meeting between Spain and Palestine, held this Thursday at the Moncloa Complex, concluded with a Joint Declaration in which the two parties demand “a complete ceasefire” in the Gaza Strip, condemn “any act of violence against civilians, including all acts of terrorism”, defend an International Conference to implement the two-state solution, demand “the end of the Israeli occupation”, condemn “the dangerous escalation in Lebanon” and urge “preventing the expansion of the conflict to the region”. In addition, Spain has committed 75 million euros in bilateral cooperation during the meeting through AECID. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Prime Minister of Palestine, Muhammad Mustafa, chaired the first intergovernmental meeting between both countries after the official recognition of the State of Palestine by Spain on May 28. The meeting was attended by the Second Vice President, Yolanda Díaz; The meeting was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares; the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Pilar Alegría; and the Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego. During the meeting, the two governments signed four memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on labour, education, youth and agriculture and adopted a Joint Declaration in which “Palestine and Spain call for the urgent need to end the war in the Gaza Strip” and ask for “the full implementation of all resolutions of the United Nations Security Council”. The two governments also reiterate their “call for a total, complete and lasting ceasefire that allows for the safe and effective distribution of large-scale humanitarian assistance and the release of all hostages and detainees” and both parties “condemn any act of violence against civilians, including all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate attacks, as well as all acts of provocation, incitement and destruction”. The two governments reaffirm “their commitment to the implementation of the two-state solution by ending the Israeli occupation, realizing the independent, sovereign and contiguous State of Palestine, and achieving the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination, independence and return in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.” In the Declaration, Spain “commits to promoting international recognition of the Palestinian State as an indispensable element for the implementation of the two-state solution, which is the only path to permanent peace, security and economic prosperity in the region.” To this end, “both parties reiterated their call for the holding of an international peace conference.” In the text, the State of Palestine “deeply appreciates Spanish assistance” and “Spain’s constant support” for the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and both parties condemn “the Israeli Government’s attempt to undermine or obstruct its ability to fulfill its mandate.” 75 million euros On the other hand, Spain expresses “its support for the reform agenda initiated by the Palestinian Government and reiterates the need for the Palestinian Government to resume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip as a unified Government for the entire Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem” and reiterates “its commitment to strengthening the Government and rebuilding Gaza the following day”. To this end, Spain expresses “its commitment to launch a new bilateral Cooperation Strategy, based on “the needs and priorities arising from the current context” and announces that, “through this new Bilateral Strategy, the AECID would allocate at least 75 million euros in support of Palestine in 2025-2026”. The Joint Declaration insists on the need to implement “the provisional measures of the International Court of Justice, which require taking all measures to prevent the commission of all acts within the scope of the Genocide Convention, the cessation of the military offensive in Rafah and the maintenance of the Rafah crossing open for the unhindered large-scale provision of urgent humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.” Furthermore, both parties ask Israel, “the occupying power,” to release the withheld tax revenues and customs duties and to allow Israeli banks to process payments with Palestinian banks, and Spain undertakes to work to improve Palestinian access to European and international markets. “Palestine and Spain once again express their firm commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the end of the Israeli occupation on the basis of international law and United Nations resolutions, and that they will work to achieve this end with the European Union, the Union for the Mediterranean and other regional and international organizations,” the text continues. In addition, Palestine and Spain “condemn the dangerous escalation in Lebanon, affirm their support for the Lebanese people and call for an immediate ceasefire” and ask for “moderation and de-escalation, as well as preventing the expansion of the conflict to the region.”

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