Barcelona Designates Gaza as Symbolic ‘11th District’
(MENAFN) In a landmark gesture of solidarity, Barcelona will symbolically designate Gaza and other Palestinian cities as its “11th district,” a move aimed at reinforcing long-term cooperation and support for Palestinian communities, Mayor Jaume Collboni announced Tuesday.
Speaking during an official visit to Jordan, Collboni described the initiative as a structural upgrade in the city’s foreign aid approach. “This is no longer a one-off cooperation with visits, but a permanent structure, designed to utilize the talent of municipal technicians,” he stated.
The newly announced “district” will not replace any of Barcelona’s existing administrative areas, but rather act as a technical and budgetary mechanism within the city’s government. It will coordinate all development efforts with Palestinian cities and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
Collboni also indicated the model could extend beyond Barcelona. A similar framework could be developed “in Palestinian territory or, if necessary, in Jordan,” he said.
The concept echoes a precedent from 1995, when Barcelona symbolically named Sarajevo as its 11th district to support post-war reconstruction following the Srebrenica genocide.
Backed by an initial €1 million ($1.16 million) budget, the Palestinian district project is set to launch by year’s end, with a long-term focus on rebuilding efforts and institutional cooperation.
As part of the initiative, Collboni pledged to double the city’s financial support to UNRWA, raising its food and medical aid contribution from €200,000 ($231,824) to €400,000 ($463,725). He further committed to “stabilize and scale up” technical collaboration with cities such as Gaza, Ramallah, and Bethlehem through the deployment of municipal experts and city resources.
The announcement comes after Israeli officials barred Collboni from entering Israel and the Palestinian territories over the weekend. In a social media post, the mayor criticized the decision, writing: “We were going to start a mission of cooperation and peace, paying attention to the mayors of Bethlehem and Ramallah. The objective was to know first-hand the reality of Palestinian cities and explore ways of aid from Barcelona at these critical moments.”
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