Palestinian Prime Minister, Spanish Foreign Minister Discuss Gaza, West Bank and Reconstruction Efforts
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares held a phone call on Friday to discuss the latest developments in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials said.
During the conversation, the two officials stressed the need to intensify international efforts to end Israel’s occupation, stop Israeli military operations and settler violence, and secure the release of Palestinian funds currently withheld by Israeli authorities.
Mustafa and Albares also underscored the importance of ongoing planning for Gaza’s reconstruction, highlighting Europe’s key role in supporting recovery efforts. They emphasized the need to unify Palestinian institutions in Gaza with those in the West Bank as part of broader efforts to establish a Palestinian state in line with international resolutions, including last year’s New York Declaration.
The talks also covered bilateral coordination and ways to strengthen Spain’s political, diplomatic and financial support for Palestine. Mustafa thanked Spain for its continued backing.
Spain officially recognized Palestine as a state in May 2024, in a coordinated move with Ireland and Norway. Palestinian Finance and Planning Minister Estephan Salameh is expected to visit Spain later this month to discuss expanded cooperation, particularly in development and reconstruction projects.
Meanwhile, Israeli operations continue in the occupied West Bank. The Palestinian Prisoners’ Media Office said Israeli forces carried out multiple raids across the territory on Friday, including in the cities of Ramallah and Hebron. Nearly 50 Palestinians were detained, following the arrest of at least 50 others a day earlier, most of them in the Ramallah area, according to The Associated Press.
As 2026 begins, the fragile 12-week-old ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has largely halted large-scale Israeli bombardment of Gaza. However, Palestinians continue to be killed by Israeli fire, particularly near the so-called Yellow Line marking areas under Israeli control.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, worsened by winter rains and colder temperatures. Aid groups say insufficient shelter materials are entering the territory during the truce.
On Friday, American actor and film producer Angelina Jolie visited the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, the only crossing linking the territory to a country other than Israel. The crossing remains closed despite Palestinian calls to reopen it for civilians and humanitarian aid.
According to Egyptian officials, Jolie met with Red Crescent workers on the Egyptian side of the crossing and later visited a hospital in the nearby city of Arish, where she spoke with Palestinian patients.
