Speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting in Ramallah, Shtayyeh said that Israel bears full responsibility for the martyrdom of Sheikh Khader Adnan. The occupying power’s policy of medical neglect and refusal to release Adnan after 86 days of hunger strike, protesting his unlawful detention without charge or trial, is a deliberate assassination. Prime minister called the international community to hold Israel accountable and actively work toward releasing all Palestinian prisoners, particularly, sick prisoners, women, and children. 

Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said that Palestine will present the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) of donor countries meeting in Brussels to discuss aid to Palestine as part of the progress report on the situation in Palestine, the reform plan, and the Palestinian economy.

Prime Minietser Dr. Shtayyeh explained that the Palestinian economic growth rate was 3.9% last year, but it will be slower this year because of a rise in Israeli punitive measures. Dr. Shtayyeh further added that the unemployment rate has declined from 19% to about 12% in the West Bank, since his government took over, yet it remained high in the Gaza Strip. Dr. Shtayyeh elaborated, while local and clearance revenues increased by 19% with stability in public expenditure, the salary bill increased. Dr. Shtayyeh said that the general budget suffers from a deficit, and expressed hope that the donors would help bridge the financing gap to address the deficit, noting that the Israeli deductions from the clearance funds and the decline in donor funds are still the main reason behind the financial deficit.

Prime minister stressed that the government will continue to work on implementing its reform program presented to the donors, mainly addressing reforming the salary bill, medical referrals, dealing with debts incurred by the water and electricity sectors, municipal issues, local governance, and other matters related to civil service law.