Spain’s foreign minister and Jordan’s deputy prime minister joined UNRWA’s commissioner‑general at a United Nations ministerial briefing to urge member states to safeguard UNRWA’s mandate, increase funding and press for an immediate halt to hostilities in Gaza.

José Manuel Albares Bueno, Spain’s minister of foreign affairs, European Union and cooperation, said Spain “strongly condemn[s] all targeted attacks aimed at humanitarian workers and its facilities” and argued that “there is no alternative to UNRWA.” He announced that Spain has contributed more than €60,000,000 to UNRWA since 2023, pledged an additional €10,000,000 and said Spain’s total planned contribution for relief would reach €150,000,000 by 2026.

Ayman Safadi, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs and expatriates of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, described Gaza as “flattened” and said the international community must act to stop what he called “this massacre” and restore services for Palestinian children and families. Safadi and other speakers called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid.

Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner‑general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), warned that the agency faces an immediate financial cliff and operational pressure. Lazzarini said UNRWA has about 12,000 staff still working in Gaza under violent and dangerous conditions, that “more than 370” UNRWA colleagues had been killed in the conflict and that the agency needs roughly $200,000,000 to bridge operations until the end of the first quarter of next year. He said the agency has imposed austerity and cost controls but may have to take more drastic measures absent new funding.

Lazzarini and the ministers also highlighted political and legal pressures on UNRWA. The commissioner described Knesset legislation passed in Israel that he said restricts UNRWA’s presence and official contacts with Israeli authorities; he reported that those laws and related measures had resulted in the withdrawal of some international staff and constrained operations in East Jerusalem and some refugee camps in the West Bank, including Jenin and Tulkarem. Lazzarini said some UN and international NGOs, as well as journalists, have also faced targeted attacks and delegitimization campaigns.

Speakers emphasized UNRWA’s role delivering education, health services, shelter management and psychosocial support in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territory, arguing that the agency’s local knowledge and staff are uniquely positioned to provide assistance and to support future reconstruction once hostilities end. Lazzarini said the agency currently holds stocks equivalent to roughly three months of food needs but cannot substitute for an unrestricted humanitarian supply chain.

Delegations and reporters at the briefing raised related concerns: a UNRWA representative said Arab-state contributions had dropped to about 3% of the agency’s income by late August compared with prior years; questions were asked about the temporary closure and reported reopening of the Allenby (King Hussein) Bridge and the likely humanitarian impact if crossings remain restricted.

The meeting produced no vote or formal multinational decision during the briefing. Instead, ministers and the UNRWA head issued public appeals for political protection of the agency’s mandate, immediate humanitarian access to Gaza and emergency funding. Spain’s announced pledge and UNRWA’s funding targets were highlighted as immediate priorities.

The briefing closed with repeated calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and renewed donor commitments so UNRWA can continue operations and plan for post‑conflict recovery.