TULKARM, May 12, 2025 (WAFA) - Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa on Monday reaffirmed the Palestinian Government’s commitment to providing temporary shelter for all displaced families in Tulkarm, stressing that: “We will not accept that any individual or family be left without shelter.”
Speaking at the opening of the weekly Cabinet session held at the Tulkarm Governorate headquarters, the Prime Minister emphasized the urgent need to enhance healthcare services, boost the local economy, create employment opportunities, and strengthen the steadfastness of Palestinian citizens, particularly those displaced from the Nur Shams and Tulkarm refugee camps.
A preparatory meeting preceded the Cabinet session, bringing together institutions and popular committees in the governorate to assess the urgent humanitarian needs of its people.
“We meet today in Tulkarm, just three days ahead of Nakba Commemoration Day, with our hearts heavy with its memory—a memory that lives on through the ongoing killing, displacement, and starvation in Gaza and the West Bank,” said Prime Minister Mustafa. “Yet we remain hopeful: hopeful that this occupation and aggression will end, that the land will return to its rightful owners, and that dignity will be restored to its people.”
The Prime Minister noted that holding the Cabinet session in Tulkarm carries a clear message from President Mahmoud Abbas to the people of Tulkarm: “We stand with you. We have done and will continue to do everything in our power to alleviate your suffering, in cooperation with the Governor, national and local institutions, UNRWA, and all partners.”
During the session, the Cabinet strongly condemned Israel’s grave decision to resume the land settlement process in Area “C,” viewing it as a dangerous escalation and part of a broader plan to annex more Palestinian land. The Cabinet warned that this move coincides with widespread land confiscation, demolitions, and the forced displacement of residents.
The Cabinet also directed all relevant institutions to intensify coordination and address the needs of displaced families. This includes the emergency allocation announced in Jenin last week: NIS 5 million for displaced families and NIS 7 million in support for business owners and the commercial sector. In addition, the Government, together with UNRWA and all partners, has allocated financial resources to secure transitional housing solutions for the displaced families.
As part of ongoing political engagement and round-the-clock diplomatic efforts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has invited members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the State of Palestine, along with international media outlets, to visit Tulkarm and Jenin on May 19 and 21. The goal is to expose the Israeli occupation's crimes against displaced families and to witness firsthand Israel's continued demolition of homes, buildings, and infrastructure.
Several ministries also presented their action plans for emergency humanitarian support to displaced families, including the ministries of health, interior, education and higher education, and others.
T.R.
