Ramallah, Prime Minister’s Office – Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, during the weekly Cabinet session on Wednesday, emphasized that as the Israeli occupation aggression on Gaza continues for the 460th consecutive day, causing displacement and severe shortages of food and medicine, the Government is closely monitoring credible reports concerning the involvement of certain organizations and merchants in exploiting humanitarian aid and failing to distribute it fairly to those in dire need.

The Prime Minister instructed the relevant authorities of the Ministries of Social Development and Interior to take all necessary measures against those involved in these violations and to hold accountable anyone proven to have exploited the suffering of our people, with zero tolerance for such actions.

“While we value the efforts of all relief organizations striving to assist our people in Gaza, it is crucial to reaffirm the central and indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which has the international mandate and legal responsibility for addressing the needs of Palestine refugees,” the Prime Minister underscored.

“UNRWA possesses the expertise and capacity to continue its vital work on the ground. It is essential that international support for the agency remains unwavering, as recently affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly with a substantial majority. No country has the right to undermine UNRWA’s mandate; rather, efforts must focus on supporting its mission until the refugee issue is resolved in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions,” he added.

In another context, Mustafa noted that the Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund, continues to prepare for an immediate response to support Gaza’s local authorities once the Israeli aggression ceases. This is consistent with longstanding Government efforts, which, since 2007 have included development, reconstruction, and job creation projects worth approximately $350 million.

The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund to develop an emergency support program for Gaza Strip’s municipalities, with an initial and emergency allocation of $29 million recently approved for urgent interventions in the Strip.

On another note, Dr. Mustafa emphasized that the Government is working to improve the financial situation on multiple levels, including continuing efforts to address the issue of net lending by expediting settlements between the Ministry of Finance, electricity distribution companies, and local authorities. “Addressing this issue is one of the key reform measures that will contribute to stabilizing the State’s fiscal situation, halting Israeli deductions from public finances, and ensuring the sustainability of local governments’ operations, all while enhancing the delivery of services to our citizens,” he said.

The Prime Minister added: "Despite the continued Israeli deductions from Palestinian clearance revenues, which reached nearly 65% last year and have risen to approximately 70% this year, along with a 65% decline in local revenues since the onset of the Israeli aggression on Gaza, the Government, under the directives of President Mahmoud Abbas, is persisting in its efforts to mobilize all possible financial resources. This is to meet its obligations to our people, including salaries for public employees, allocations for various societal groups, payments to suppliers and the private sector, as well as operational expenses for hospitals, educational institutions, and other essential services.”

The Prime Minister reiterated: “The Government will spare no effort to serve our people and strengthen their steadfastness in all places of their presence.”

The Cabinet condemned recent postings by official accounts affiliated with the Israeli occupation authorities, which included maps of the region that include Palestinian and Arab lands, as well as racist statements calling for the annexation of the West Bank and the establishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip, stressing that such actions constitute a blatant violation of all international legitimacy resolutions and international law.

The Cabinet also reviewed a briefing by Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf al-Awar on Israeli plans to demolish 126 homes in the occupied Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, highlighting the ministry’s efforts through multiple legal channels to defend the rights of Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, mobilize additional funds to compensate those affected, and strengthen their steadfastness.

The Cabinet also reviewed the recommendations by the National Preparatory Committee for the implementation of the declaration of Jerusalem as the Capital of Arab Women (2025–2026), as well as the importance of Palestine’s chairmanship of the Arab Women’s Committee in supporting Palestinian women’s causes. This includes a range of activities at Arab and international levels, including workshops and dialogues at the United Nations. Furthermore, part of Palestine’s efforts in this regard involves the Ministry of Culture’s preparations to launch the Jerusalem Award for Arab Women’s Literary Creativity.

The Cabinet also approved a document aimed at enhancing the efficiency of drug procurement and managing its supply chain, as well as the strategic priorities for action, fostering a competitive environment among drug suppliers, enhance the selection process, and ensure a better stock of medications.

Additionally, the Cabinet ratified decisions from the second session of the Palestine-Turkey Economic Cooperation Council, including agreements to boost trade and grant new exemptions for Palestinian-origin products.