Spain to provide money to support UN investigations into Israeli human rights abuses

Spain will provide more than $560,000 to support UN investigations into human rights violations and possible war crimes committed in Gaza, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said, according to media reports on Monday.

"With the aim of ending these violations of international law and with the desire to ensure accountability, I announce that we will support the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in increasing its investigative efforts into human rights violations and war crimes that may have been committed in Gaza,” Albares told Spain’s Committee on Foreign Affairs.

He said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by Israel’s aid blockade was "totally and absolutely unacceptable" and held Israel responsible for "causing an unprecedented famine".

"The urgent entry of food is necessary to save the lives of innocent Palestinians," he said. "The civilian population of Gaza deserves dignity and peace, and Spain demands it and will continue to demand it."

Last week, Spain participated in the International Court of Justice hearings concerning Israel’s obligations as an occupying power in the occupied Palestinian territories.