The acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, EU and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has stated that the Government defends protecting the population of Gaza: “We are ready to increase Spanish aid after an initial support of one million euros this year”.

In an interview with ‘La Vanguardia’, he said that “It is urgent to protect the civilian populationallow aid access to Gaza and ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including the release of hostages.” Regarding a possible energy crisis due to the conflict, he responded that it is not being raised by any of the producing countries, and has added about Spain: “Our energy needs are perfectly covered and we have very reliable suppliers.”

As for whether there could now be a crisis between Morocco and Israel despite the fact that they have just normalized their diplomatic relations, he responded that he neither predicts nor desires it. “I don’t think so, and I hope that no crisis will occur between Morocco and Israel. Spain is in favor of rapprochement between the Arab countries and Israel,” he said.

Between Israel and the Palestinian territories There are about 9,000 Spaniards registered in the embassy, ​​and that the Ministry is closely monitoring “to know who could be repatriated.” Albares prioritizes “the evaluation of the situation of the Spaniards in Gaza”, although he did not want to talk about the missing Spaniard, for his safety and out of respect for his family, but he said that they know who he is and are working to clarify his situation.

Regarding whether there is unity within the Government in the face of this conflict, he responded that it is united in the desire for peace to return to the Middle East: “That said, I remember that the only two voices that express the official position on foreign policy are that of the president of the Government and that of the Minister of Foreign Affairs”. AND has specified that position: that Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas; that international humanitarian law must be respected; that the Palestinian population must be protected, and that basic services and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza must be guaranteed.

Furthermore, Albares has highlighted the union of Europe in foreign policy and has said that the announcement by the European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, the Hungarian Olivér Várhelyi, to suspend humanitarian aid to Gaza “was a non-consensual decision, which Spain opposed. that and that “there is not a single indication that a single cent of aid to the population of Gaza has been used for other purposes“. He has also highlighted that On November 27 there will be a meeting of the Union in Barcelona for the Mediterranean (UfM), which he described as very important, and added: “I want to remember that Israel and Palestine sit at that table.”