TULKARM, May 14, 2025 (WAFA) – Spanish Consul-General José Javier Gutiérrez Blanco-Navarrete on Wednesday inspected first-hand the destruction wrought by Israeli occupation forces on the occupied West Bank governorate of Tulkarm.

Spain’s Consul-General to Jerusalem Blanco-Navarrete made his way to Tulkarm to inspect first-hand the situation, particularly in the Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps, given the ongoing Israeli military aggression on them.

He listened to a presentation on the situation, with a focus on closure, military checkpoints, colonists’ attacks, the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure, large-scale house demolitions, and the ensuing forced displacement of over 40,000 Palestinians.

Deputy Governor, Faisal Salameh, briefed the top Spanish diplomat on the economic repercussions of the Israeli aggression for Palestinians, particularly the soaring unemployment rates due to the fact that thousands of workers who used to work in the 1948 Territories lost their jobs, the halting of the issuance of entry permits for workers, the stifling economic growth and the closure, which made markets and businesses in the governorate inaccessible to Palestinian citizens the 1948 Territories.

The Spanish Consul-General Blanco-Navarrete stated that he made this visit within the framework of partnership and cooperation, stressed the importance of ongoing cooperation and consultation with the Palestinian side, and commended Spanish-Palestinian relations.

K.F.