Spain Receives 20 Palestinian Children From Gaza Aboard UMAER A330 Medical Flight

Spain received the first 20 Palestinian children and their families from the Gaza Strip aboard a medicalized A330 aircraft of the Medical Unit for Aeroevacuation (UMAER) of the Air and Space Force.

“Spain's health minister announced the arrival of 20 Palestinian children and their families in Spain, as part of the sixth batch of evacuations from the Gaza Strip”

Al-Jazeera Net

The A330 departed this Monday toward Jordan to bring back to Spain 20 Palestinian children along with 82 relatives from the Gaza Strip, and the operation was described as the sixth Spain has organized in the last eighteen months.

Al-Jazeera Net

El Español said UMAER chief Colonel Pilar Salvador described the aircraft as "a hospital at 35,000 feet" and said the mission is to be "prepared to intervene on them at any moment" depending on each patient’s needs.

Once in Spain, the children were to be distributed to hospitals in Asturias, Cantabria, Navarra, the Basque Country, Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha, Valencia, Madrid and Murcia, with the Ministry of Defense explaining the transfer as a joint operation with the Ministry of Health.

CMKX Radio Bayamo said the first 20 Palestinian children out of a total of 101 arrived today in Spain, accompanied by 81 family members, and listed six with traumatic injuries, four with nephrological conditions, and five with ophthalmological conditions.

Al-Jazeera Net reported that Spain’s health minister announced the arrival of 20 Palestinian children and their families in Spain as part of the sixth batch of evacuations from the Gaza Strip.

The same article quoted the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez writing, "No human being, and certainly not a child, should suffer the horrors being inflicted in Gaza."

CMKX Radio Bayamo

Al-Jazeera Net also said Sánchez added that "Today our country hosts 100 Palestinians, including 20 children, with their families, to receive the necessary treatment."

El Español said Colonel Pilar Salvador described the aircraft’s configurations and five stretchers with ICU positions, and said the children arrive tired and dehydrated after the long journey first to Israel and then to Jordan.

CMKX Radio Bayamo said the press was told this is a "joint operation" with the Ministry of Health to offer treatment to patients with different pathologies in Spain.

Al-Jazeera Net said Spain adopted a political position rejecting the genocidal war Israel is waging on the Gaza Strip and escalated against Israel’s policies in light of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic steps and practical measures.

“The A330 medicalized aircraft of the Medical Aeroevacuation Unit (UMAER) of the Spanish Air and Space Force is already in Madrid, having departed this Monday toward Jordan to bring back to Spain 20 Palestinian children along with 82 relatives from the Gaza Strip”

El Español

The article said those measures included permanently recalling the Spanish ambassador from Tel Aviv, banning entry of those accused of war crimes, and preventing any activities related to the Israeli army from crossing Spanish territory.

It added that Sánchez called for suspending the EU-Israel partnership agreement, describing it as a fundamental framework that governs trade and political relations and supports cooperation including scientific research.

Al-Jazeera Net said the turning point came in May 2024, when Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine, prompting Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to recall its ambassador and downgrade diplomatic representation.

The article further said Madrid prevented ships carrying weapons destined for Israel from docking at its ports and, amid escalating regional tensions in early 2026, announced the closure of its airspace to any aircraft connected to the war on Iran, triggering Israeli criticism described as the most hostile in Europe.