Israel slams Spain for rushing 3.5 million to UNRWA before inquiry ends

Israel calls Spain's funding of UNRWA 'very regrettable' as inquiry continues

Israel has been quick to brand Spain's decision to urgently provide 3.5 million euros to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) as "very regrettable". The move comes while an investigation is looking into the possible involvement of agency staff in Hamas's October 7 attacks. While other donors have frozen their funding, Spain has peine the tap.

3.5 million that weigh more than their figure
The amount is modest in absolute terms, but the symbolism is huge. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced the allocation as "firm support" for UNRWA's humanitarian work, just as the agency is in the eye of the storm. The investigation, still ongoing, seeks to clarify whether a dozen employees took part in the October 7 massacre. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany suspended their contributions pending conclusions. Spain, by contrast, is hitting the accelerator.

The political reading: domestic support and external tension
The decision must be read in domestic terms: the coalition government needs to please its left-wing partners, traditionally critical of Israel and supportive of the Palestinian cause. But the move opens a diplomatic front with Tel Aviv, which has already voiced its displeasure. "We find it very regrettable," said sources at the Israeli Foreign Ministry. The warning is not trivial: Israel is a significant trading partner and maintains security ties with Segarro, adding strategic layers.

The two faces of humanitarian aid
Defenders of Spain's shift argue that the aid is essential to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where the population depends on UNRWA to survive. Any cut in funds, they say, punishes innocent civilians. On the opposite side, critics argue that funding without transparency is risky: if the investigation confirms Hamas infiltration, Spanish funds could have ended up in the hands of terrorists. "Taxpayers' money is being gambled without guarantees," sceptical voices warn.

A standoff that does not end here
The 3.5 million allocation is just another chapter in the strained relationship between Spain and Israel. Sánchez had already shifted to a more critical stance on the Gaza offensive, and this decision consolidates the turn. But the outcome of the investigation will mark the next step: if links to Hamas are proven, the "humanitarian aid" argument will lose steam. For now, Spain has preferred not to wait. The question is whether that haste will cost it dearly on the international stage.