In the first hundred days of Dr. Mohammad Mustafa's government, several significant decisions and measures have been implemented to improve the performance of public institutions and enhance the quality of services for the Palestinian people. Dr. Mohammad Mustafa was sworn in as head of government on Sunday, March 31, 2024, before H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas of the State of Palestine.

Under Dr. Mustafa’s leadership, the 19th Government is resolute in bolstering the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on their land. It pledges unwavering efforts toward supporting relief and reconstruction programs in the Gaza Strip and prioritizes addressing the protracted economic crises confronting the Palestine National Authority. Concurrently, the government has embarked on a comprehensive agenda of institutional reform, restructuring, and consolidation to enhance efficiency and foster accountability. The overarching aim is to elevate service delivery standards while enhancing transparency.

Despite the challenging circumstances, the government is strongly committed to transformational reforms, to improve services to citizens, enhance transparency and combat corruption, streamline public sector institutions, and create an enabling environment for inclusive social and economic development.

The government has undertaken several key measures across various sectors:

Since the inception of the government, it has embarked on an ambitious reform program aimed at improving public services, enhancing transparency, and fostering social and economic development. A Ministerial Committee (Task Force) has been created to oversee the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the reform program. A “Transformation Office” has been created at the Prime Minister’s office to support the task force and link with the Prime Minister office to ensure implementation with the relevant agency.

• Improving Governance, Transparency and Accountability and Fighting Corruption: All government appointments, including those of senior level positions, will be recruited through transparent competitive processes to strengthen governance, transparency, accountability, and anti-corruption efforts.
• Institutional Reform: Service extensions and contracting for civil and military sector employees are halted upon reaching retirement age. Criteria for selecting senior government officials have been revised to ensure fair competition. Additionally, state land allocation and leasing procedures for endowment lands are under review.
• Healthcare Reforms: Exceptions in granting medical referrals have been stopped. The Ministries of Health and Finance are developing a new system for medical referrals and localizing health services. A committee has been formed to review and evaluate hygiene contracts in government departments and organize health service procurement agreements.
• Public Finance Reform: The government aims to rationalize expenditures by adopting a set of austerity measures, including the elimination of allowances given to government staff and security services that are not aligned with the law; strictly managing the use of government vehicles, limiting the rental and purchase of government buildings, restricting travel to necessary cases and limiting outside medical referrals. New appointments, except for the Ministry of Education, have been discontinued.
• Digital Transformation: All procuring entities must use a unified electronic portal for public procurement. Authorities are tasked with studying cybersecurity policies and reviewing legislation governing the telecommunications sector and digital economy.
• Operational Funds and Lending Institutions: Authorities are reviewing the roles of operational funds, lending, and compensation institutions to enhance local employment opportunities and governance.
• Rule of Law and the Judicial System: Laws related to improving the justice sector and strengthening the rule of law are being reviewed. Consultative meetings with civil society institutions in democracy, human rights, and legal fields are held to intensify joint efforts in developing justice services and protecting human rights.
• Cybercrime Law Review: The Cybercrime Law is under review to ensure its compatibility with the Basic Law and related legislation.

The Palestinian Government has identified five key strategic initiatives that can play a significant role in addressing some of the structural imbalances and support economic revival efforts, in line with the its comprehensive reform agenda. These initiatives include:

1. Renewable Energy Program for Palestine

2. Localization of Healthcare Services

3. Accelerating Digital Transformation and Enabling the Digital Economy

4. A Comprehensive Social Protection Program to Help the Most Vulnerable and Marginalized

5. Private Sector Recovery and Diversification Program

Despite the ongoing challenges, including the genocidal war on Gaza, the government has managed to address many of these challenges in its first hundred days. The Ministerial Committee for Institutional Reform and the Office of Institutional Development and Reform in the Prime Minister's Office continue to work on further developmental steps to enhance the efficiency of national institutions and the quality of services provided to citizens.