<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has launched a response plan to deliver Spanish humanitarian aid to the nearly two million Gazans facing famine and all kinds of needs, following the announcement of a ceasefire in Gaza and the possibility of a massive entry of humanitarian aid by land.</strong></h4> The plan's first priority is to facilitate access to the aid already prepared and ready to enter the area since March. AECID has prepared twelve tons of medicines and medical supplies and 19 tons of shelter materials (tents) for the Gaza Strip. “AECID emergency aid will be available from the moment entry is made possible through land crossings,” stated Minister José Manuel Albares in a press release from the Department. This aid will aim “not only to end the famine, but also to meet the basic essential needs of the Gazan population,” he added. Since October 7, 2023, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AECID has mobilized more than €50 million in humanitarian aid to Palestine. “Following the agreement announced this week for a ceasefire and the return of hostages, Spain will actively participate through AECID in the efforts of the international community and humanitarian actors to exponentially increase the entry and distribution of aid,” the Ministry added. In addition, in addition to working with the United Nations system, including UNRWA, an agency that has already received contributions from AECID worth €19.5 million this year, AECID will increase its support for civil society organizations, especially local organizations that represent the fastest way to strengthen the response on the ground. In the coming days, €850,000 will be mobilized for the Palestine Red Crescent and the local NGO Al Awda. In addition, the next round of funding for Spanish NGOs is expected to include three million euros from the extraordinary call for Humanitarian Actions for Palestine launched by AECID in February of this year. Despite the difficulties imposed by the Israeli authorities, these NGOs (Action Against Hunger, Doctors of the World, Spanish Red Cross, Alliance for Solidarity, and Save the Children) continue to maintain operational capacity. This is in addition to the mobilization of the UN Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF), to which Spain has contributed €4.5 million this year, to strengthen the United Nations' response capacity in this new phase. This response plan will be adapted to the situation in coordination with humanitarian agencies on the ground to assess the possibility of additional interventions. The AECID maintains "a strong commitment to the humanitarian response in Palestine, both through advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy, as well as through funding for key humanitarian partners," the press release continues. In 2025 alone, the budget allocated to this crisis is close to €21.5 million. These figures are provisional and are expected to increase before the end of this year, in response to the situation that has arisen since the ceasefire. <h5><strong>Financial aid to the Palestinian Authority</strong></h5> On another note, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced a two million euro political and financial contribution to the Palestinian Authority, as reported by <a href="https://thediplomatinspain.com/en/2025/10/14/spain-contributes-two-million-euros-to-the-palestinian-authority-to-pay-civil-servants/"><strong><em>The Diplomat</em></strong></a>. According to another statement from the Ministry, with this first contribution, Spain is materializing its commitment to the Urgent Coalition for Palestine, an initiative launched jointly with Saudi Arabia, Norway, and France for the financial sustainability of the Palestinian Authority, which has already been joined by twelve countries. This initiative aims to provide financial support to the Palestinian Authority, given the risk of financial bankruptcy due to the withholding of its tax revenues. The AECID contribution is made through the PEGASE EU instrument, "Palestinian-European Mechanism for the Management of Socio-Economic Aid," formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Spain and the Palestinian Authority on October 13. PEGASE is a European Union initiative launched in 2008 to support the Palestinian people. Its objective is to provide financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority to facilitate the provision of public services, including the payment of salaries to civil servants and social benefits to vulnerable families. The mechanism also supports infrastructure development and seeks sustainable development in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem. Since 2008, Spain has disbursed a total of €115.3 million to support the Palestinian Authority in these areas. "This decision is part of Spain's firm political and financial commitment to the Palestinian Authority, a key partner for peace. The future of the Palestinian State requires a strengthened Palestinian Authority, which represents the best guarantee of security and stability for the entire region," the press release concludes.
