RAMALLAH, January, 8, 2024 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa stressed during the weekly cabinet session today that with the continuation of the occupation's crimes in the Gaza Strip for the 460th consecutive day and the suffering of the Palestinian people from displacement and shortages of food and medicine, the government is closely monitoring credible reports concerning the involvement of certain institutions and merchants in exploiting aid and failing to distribute it  to those in dire need.

The cabinet stated in a statement that Mustafa has assigned the competent authorities from the Ministries of Social Development and Interior to take all necessary measures and steps to follow up on the parties involved in the violations, and not to be lenient with anyone proven to be exploiting the suffering of our people.

Mustafa said, "Despite our appreciation for all the relief institutions that are trying to help our people in the Strip, it is necessary to emphasize the centrality and pivotal role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), as it has the international and legal mandate to follow up on the affairs of Palestinian refugees and provide for their needs."

He added, "UNRWA has all the experience and capabilities on the ground to follow up on its work, and international support for it must continue, as was recently confirmed by the UN General Assembly with a large majority, and that no country can undermine UNRWA's work, but rather it must be supported and continue to implement its tasks, and continue until the refugee issue is resolved on the basis of international law and relevant UN resolutions."

In another context, Mustafa pointed out that the government, through the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund, continues to prepare for an urgent response and provide the necessary support to local authorities in the Gaza Strip immediately after the aggression stops, just as it has worked throughout the past years on development projects, reconstruction projects, and job creation projects worth about $350 million since 2007.

He instructed the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund to prepare an emergency program to support the municipalities of the Strip, noting that $29 million was recently allocated as an initial and emergency allocation for urgent intervention in the Strip.

On the other hand, Mustafa stressed that the government is working to improve the financial situation on several levels, and to continue working to address the problem of net lending, by quickly advancing settlements between the Ministry of Finance, electricity distribution companies and local authorities.

Mustafa said, "Addressing this file represents one of the most important reform files that will contribute to stabilizing the state's financial situation, stopping the bleeding of Israeli deductions from public finances, as well as stabilizing the work of local government bodies and improving the quality of services."

The Prime Minister added, "Despite the continued Israeli deductions from the clearance funds, which have increased since the beginning of this year to about 70%, and with the decline in local revenues since the aggression on Gaza, the government continues, under the directives of Mr. President, its efforts to change this situation and mobilize all possible financial resources to fulfill its obligations towards our people, including salaries for employees, allocations for various categories, suppliers, the private sector, and operating expenses for hospitals, educational institutions, and others."

Mustafa stressed that the government will not hesitate to make every possible effort to serve our people and enhance their steadfastness wherever they are.

The Council of Ministers condemned the publication by official accounts of the occupation authorities of maps of the region that include Palestinian and Arab territories, and the publication of racist statements calling for the annexation of the West Bank and the establishment of settlements in the Gaza Strip, as they constitute a flagrant violation of all international legitimacy resolutions and international law.

The Council also heard a presentation by the Minister of Jerusalem Affairs Ashraf Al-Awar on the occupation's plans to demolish 126 homes in Silwan, and the legal efforts made by the Ministry through several law firms to defend the rights of our Jerusalemite people, and to work to raise more funds to compensate them and enhance their steadfastness.

The Council of Ministers was briefed on the recommendations of the meeting of the National Preparatory Committee for the Implementation of the Declaration of Jerusalem as the Capital of Arab Women (2025-2026), and the importance of Palestine's presidency of the "Arab Women" Committee in supporting Palestinian women's issues, and a series of events that will be organized Arab and international throughout the year to support Palestinian women, including holding workshops and dialogue sessions, including within the corridors of the United Nations, to present the reality of women and the violations of the occupation and ways to provide the necessary support for them. The State of Palestine's preparations also include the launch of the Ministry of Culture of the Jerusalem Award for Arab Women for Literary Creativity.

The Council also approved the document on improving the efficiency of purchasing medicines and managing their supply chain and strategic priorities for work, which will contribute to creating a competitive environment among drug providers, improving their selection and providing better stock of them.

The Council also approved the decisions of the Palestinian-Turkish Economic Cooperation Council/Second Session, which included agreements to increase trade exchange and new exemptions for products and goods of Palestinian origin.

Y.S