RAMALLAH, December 18, 2025 (WAFA) — The Palestine National Economic Empowerment Institution on Thursday affirmed its full and unwavering commitment to implementing Decree-Law No. (4) of 2025 on establishing a unified social protection and care system and abolishing previous legislation related to payments to prisoners' families, without exceptions or circumvention.
In a statement issued in response to inciting and misleading remarks by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the institution rejected claims questioning the State of Palestine’s and the institution’s adherence to the new law, stressing that such allegations are unfounded and deliberately misleading.
The institution emphasized that it does not, and will not, disburse any financial payments to families of prisoners, the fallen, or the injured based on any previous laws or regulations. It said all social assistance is provided exclusively through the unified social assessment system, which is based on internationally recognized standards and determined solely by social need, without regard to political or security background.
It explained that comprehensive social assessments have shown that a significant number of families who previously received benefits no longer meet the eligibility criteria set out in Decree-Law No. (4) of 2025, and therefore will not receive social assistance under the new system. This shift, it said, reflects a complete transition toward a professional, fair, and transparent social protection framework grounded in social justice principles.
The institution confirmed that the payment system linked to the length of imprisonment has been fully and permanently abolished and is no longer applied in any form, describing claims to the contrary as deliberate disinformation.
It also announced its readiness to engage in any independent international audit, noting that it has already contracted specialized international auditing firms to document its strict compliance with the law, enhance transparency and accountability, and counter misleading Israeli allegations before the international community.
The statement added that the ongoing reforms to the social protection system are part of the State of Palestine’s commitments to the international community and are being carried out in coordination with international partners and donors, in line with global best practices in good governance, fair targeting, and protection of the most vulnerable groups.
It stressed that these reforms represent a sovereign national choice based on the rule of law and are not subject to political pressure or blackmail.
The institution concluded that attempts by the Israeli government to mislead international public opinion will not alter the reality that Palestine is moving forward with a comprehensive, transparent reform program aligned with international standards, despite the ongoing occupation and its policies.
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