Spain to continue to fund UN agency for Palestinian refugees

Madrid, Jan 29 (Prensa Latina) Spain will continue to fund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), even though it will closely follow an ongoing investigation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.

January 29, 2024
12:08

During his speech in the Congress of Deputies, Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said that Spain will not change its relation with the UNRWA, but it will closely follow up on the investigation over the alleged collaboration of some of its employees with Hamas.

Taking stock of Spain’s foreign policy, Albares emphasized priority issues such as those related to the Israel-Hamas war.

Some Western countries, led by the United States and the United Kingdom, cut off aid ties with the UNRWA due to allegations that a dozen of its employees had collaborated with Hamas and allegedly took part in the October 7 attacks on Israeli civilians.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the international community not to suspend its support for the UNRWA.

The UN chief noted that the alleged actions by these staff members must have consequences, but there are “dozens of thousands of people (some 30,000)” who work for the UNRWA and should not be penalized.

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