RAMALLAH, February 4, 2025 (WAFA) - Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa announced during the opening remarks of the weekly Cabinet session on Tuesday that, “In affirmation of the unity of the territory of the State of Palestine, and in pursuit of strengthening national unity, the Palestinian Government, under the leadership of President Mahmoud Abbas, has decided to establish a task force to manage affairs of the Gaza Strip.”
Mustafa emphasized that “the Government, as part of its ongoing efforts and in coordination with our brothers—particularly the Arab Republic of Egypt—and other relevant parties, is working under direct directives from President Abbas to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid, reopen roads, clear debris, and provide adequate shelter for those whose homes have been destroyed, paving the way for comprehensive reconstruction.”
The Prime Minister noted that last October, the National Reconstruction Preparation Team was established, which is working in close coordination with various UN and international partner institutions in preparation for the reconstruction process.
“On the ground, the Government is actively working through the Government Operations Room for Emergency Interventions in the Gaza Strip, in coordination with various partners, to deliver as many essential services as possible to our people in Gaza, including water, electricity, healthcare, and education. This is a national responsibility toward our people, who have endured the horrors of war for the past fifteen months,” he underscored.
On the situation in the West Bank, Mustafa stated, “Amid the escalation of Israeli occupation crimes in the refugee camps of Jenin and Tulkarem, and more recently in al-Far’a camp and Tammun, as well as forcing thousands of our people—including children, the elderly, and women—out of their homes; coupled with the systematic destruction and sabotage of houses, infrastructure, and civilian property. In response, President Abbas has directed an urgent request for a Security Council emergency session to intervene urgently and assume its responsibilities regarding these grave violations. The session has been scheduled for this evening.”
The Prime Minister added, “Our diplomatic missions have intensified their efforts and engagements with governments across the world to expose the crimes of the Israeli occupation, document its violations, and rally international support for Palestinian inalienable rights. We are also pressing for an end to the Israeli aggression and destruction that is targeting the entirety of Palestinian Territory. Accordingly, the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council, will convene in Geneva tomorrow to investigate these crimes and violations, particularly in the northern West Bank.”
Mustafa also noted that emergency committees in the northern West Bank and the Ministerial Committee for Emergency Action have been tasked with following up on the needs of displaced Palestinians and ensuring immediate and urgent shelter.
He further explained that the Ministry of Social Development has already dispatched eight shipments of relief supplies and infant formula to Jenin and Tulkarem and is working to prepare additional aid. The Ministry has also launched a large-scale relief campaign for northern West Bank citizens in coordination with chambers of commerce, national institutions, and partner organizations.
Mustafa stated, “Despite the unjust financial siege imposed by the Israeli occupation, deducting and withholding more than half of Palestinian clearance revenues, we remain steadfast in mobilizing the necessary resources to repair the destruction caused by the occupation and to uphold our responsibilities in strengthening the steadfastness of our people.”
Mustafa affirmed that “we will neither capitulate nor despair in the face of the international community’s failure to stop Israel’s war machine. These crimes against our people must end. We will continue our legitimate struggle for all our rights because we are certain that justice will prevail as no right is ever lost when fought for.”
The Cabinet also reviewed a report on the efforts of the Government Operations Room for Emergency Interventions in the Gaza Strip and the coordination between government institutions and international relief organizations to support the Palestinian people in the Strip.
T.R.
