Albares defends 'moral obligation' to act in Gaza after measures to support the Palestinian people are approved

Albares, who appeared at the press conference following the Council of Ministers after the Agreement on "measures against genocide in Gaza and in support of the Palestinian population" was approved, warned of the deterioration of the situation in the Strip, while recalling that Spain has condemned the attack by the terrorist organisation Hamas and has at all times demanded the release of all the hostages.

In this context, the Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed that "the Palestinian people have exactly the same right to a State and to their security" after insisting that "we have always defended the existence of the State of Israel and its legitimate right to security".

After noting that Spain is the country in the world that is doing the most for Palestine, for Gazan civilians and for peace, international law and human rights, Albares explained the agreement adopted on Tuesday, which contains the following measures:

The measures

1. The urgent approval of a Royal Decree-Law consolidating the arms embargo on Israel implemented since October 2023.

2. The extension of the refusal to authorise transit through Spanish ports to ships carrying fuels used by the Israeli Armed Forces.

3. The denial of authorisation to enter Spanish airspace to all aircraft carrying military material destined for Israel, as permitted under Spanish legislation on air navigation and safety.

4. The inclusion in the official list of sanctioned persons of Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich. Persons included in this list will not be allowed to enter Spanish territory and will be included in the Schengen Information System.

5. A ban on the import of products from illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

6. The limitation of consular services provided to Spanish citizens residing in illegal Israeli settlements to the minimum legally mandatory assistance.

7. The strengthening of the Spanish Government's financial support to the Palestinian Authority and the establishment of new collaboration projects.

8. The increase in the Humanitarian Aid and Cooperation budget for Gaza, which will reach 150 million euros next year, in 2026.

9. The increase of Spain's contribution to UNRWA, the UN agency dealing with Palestinian refugees, with an additional ten million euros on top of the amounts that Spain had already tripled, specifically earmarked to assist the Gazan population.​

-NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION-