New York – Prime Minister’s Office - Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Dr. Mohammad Mustafa stated that, "Despite the immense scale of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the appeals from every corner of the globe for a halt to this aggression, efforts to achieve a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire have so far failed, and Israel continues to act with impunity, prolonging the suffering of innocent civilians and deepening the already fragile socio-economic conditions in which they have been forced to live for decades.”

In his address at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), Meeting of the International Donor Group for Palestine, held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Prime Minister underscored that the assault on the very existence of the Palestinian people extends beyond Gaza, threatening the stability and viability of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

“Our goal is to transform the challenges we face into opportunities for recovery, rebuilding, and growth centered around four key pillars: Reunifying the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and Gaza; strengthening the performance of public institutions through necessary reforms; supporting the recovery and reconstruction of Gaza; and developing a vibrant and independent economy,” Mustafa added.

The Prime Minister also pointed out that, according to the World Bank’s latest monitoring report, the relentless Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people has had a serious negative impact on the Palestinian economy which has contracted by 35% in the first quarter of 2024, marking the most significant decline on record. In Gaza today, economic activities have been brought to the brink of total collapse, pushing close to 100% of Gaza’s population into poverty. The economic recession has also hit the West Bank’s economy with extremely adverse effects on household incomes, employment, and the performance of the private sector.

Mustafa said that, following positive engagement and partnership with our European partners, we have made significant progress on developing a “comprehensive program for recovery and resilience”. This program aims to provide predictable budget support for the next two and a half years and assist us in implementing our reform agenda. He affirmed confidence that this will be followed by further significant contributions from Arab, regional and international partners.

Additionally, the Prime Minister acknowledged that while the reconstruction of Gaza will take many years considering the vast devastation inflicted upon it, we are committed to establishing the institutional framework and enabling environment needed to effectively coordinate humanitarian efforts, restore critical infrastructure, and pave the way for a comprehensive reconstruction process. This will enable our people in Gaza to recover, rebuild their homes and livelihoods, restore education and health services, and secure a dignified and sustainable future

Mustafa stressed that the Palestinian leadership's vision, under President Mahmoud Abbas, of realizing an independent Palestinian state is unequivocal and unwavering. However, given the immense challenges we face and the scale of the efforts required, the political and financial support of our Arab and international partners remains absolutely indispensable. Besides, international efforts are needed to pressure Israel into fully releasing the withheld Palestinian tax revenues and ensuring their unrestricted and unconditional transfer.

The Prime Minister concluded by saying, “The weight of great responsibility rests upon all of us, and I am confident that the international community can unite to support the just cause of Palestine and uphold the principles of justice, dignity, and peace.”