Foreign Minister Albares and PM Mustafa coordinate on aid, political support, and West Bank-Gaza unity, as Israel continues raids and humanitarian crisis deepens.
RAMALLAH – In a significant diplomatic engagement, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares held talks on Friday, emphasizing urgent international action to end the war in Gaza, secure reconstruction plans, and unify Palestinian territories under a single statehood vision.
The phone discussion centered on intensifying efforts to halt Israeli military operations and settler violence in the occupied West Bank, release Palestinian funds withheld by Israel, and advance a coordinated plan for Gaza’s rebuilding with substantial European involvement.
Both leaders stressed the necessity of merging Palestinian institutions in Gaza with those in the West Bank, aligning with international resolutions including last year’s New York Declaration, which outlines a pathway toward a sovereign Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Mustafa thanked Spain for its sustained political, diplomatic, and financial backing. Spain—alongside Ireland and Norway—officially recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, marking a notable shift in European diplomatic stance.
The talks come ahead of a planned visit this month by Palestinian Finance Minister Estephan Salameh to Spain, where enhanced cooperation in development and reconstruction is expected to be finalized.
Meanwhile, on the ground, tensions remain high. Israeli forces conducted widespread raids across the West Bank on Friday, detaining nearly 50 Palestinians in cities including Ramallah and Hebron, following dozens of arrests the previous day.
Although a shaky 12-week ceasefire has reduced large-scale bombardments in Gaza, Israeli fire continues to cause Palestinian casualties, particularly along the contentious “Yellow Line” separation zone. Humanitarian conditions have worsened with winter rains and cold, while aid groups report critical shortages of shelter materials.
In a related development, American actor and humanitarian Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing and an Egyptian hospital near Gaza on Friday, highlighting the ongoing closure of the vital passage. The crossing remains shut despite Palestinian and international appeals to reopen it for aid and evacuation.
The conversation between Albares and Mustafa underscores growing European engagement in post-conflict planning, even as immediate violence and humanitarian need persist.
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