The Government of Catalonia has approved a contribution of 800,000 euros to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to respond to the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas is causing a serious humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. The blockade of basic supplies, the ordered evacuation of the northern part of the Strip and the bombing of infrastructure have placed the people in this territory in a state of emergency.

This was confirmed by the Government's Director-General for Development Cooperation, Yoya Alcoceba, in a meeting with the Executive Director of UNRWA Spain, Raquel Martí, who explained that the priority now is humanitarian access – that is, the opening of the border crossings – and for a ceasefire to be declared to allow the humanitarian community to provide essential services to the people of Gaza.

In view of all this, the Government will convene the Catalan Committee for Emergency Humanitarian Aid on the 25 October to coordinate the response of all Catalan cooperation actors to this conflict. Indeed, the Government is already preparing a second contribution of 295,000 euros to the UNRWA as part of a continued response to the humanitarian emergency.

The President of the Government of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, condemned on behalf of the Government "the indiscriminate attacks against the civilian, Israeli and Palestinian population" and called for "the liberation of the remaining hostages in Gaza" and for respect for "international humanitarian law and human rights".

Catalan cooperation in Palestine

Palestine has traditionally been a priority country for the Government of Catalonia's development cooperation. From the outset, the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation (ACCD) has focused on supporting the needs of the most vulnerable population, working actively in defence of human rights and taking steps towards peace and conflict resolution.

The Government of Catalonia works for the development and improvement of the quality of life of the Palestinian people in the territories of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In recent years, and under the mandate of the last two development cooperation master plans, the ACCD has prioritised actions in the promotion and defence of women's human rights.