Spanish organizations express ‘enormous concern’ about Palestine in meeting with foreign minister

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Spain’s foreign minister met 18 organizations Wednesday involved with Palestine to hear their “enormous concerns with the humanitarian catastrophe” and demands do more to help alleviate the situation.

The NGOs included the Spanish chapters of Doctors of the World, Oxfam, Save the Children, The UN Relief Agency for Palestine and the UN Children’s Fund as well as aid groups.

A statement released by The Coordinator of Organizations for Development said the groups indicated that Spain’s recent recognition of Palestine is a “significant step, but not enough if it’s not accompanied with other measures.”

“The situation in Gaza is deteriorating quickly; almost a million people have had to run with no chance of escaping; in the West Bank, the violence has also increased,” they told Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares.

They added that organizations working in Palestine are increasingly criminalized and their work is facing new restrictions.

In turn, the NGOs urged Spain to work urgently toward a negotiated solution to the conflict; a permanent cease-fire; access to humanitarian aid; ensuring respect for international law and ending all arms trade with Israel.

Spain has refused to grant new approvals for arms exports to Israel, though imports and transfers of weapons appear to be ongoing.

Albares met earlier Wednesday with top diplomats and representatives from countries including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Palestine to discuss a two-state solution to the conflict and Spain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.