-  Orders health insurance coverage for displaced families in Hebron through the end of the year, based on need

-  Directs the facilitation and acceleration of building permit procedures in targeted areas

-  Approves property tax collection powers for four municipalities, bringing the total to 54 out of 88 municipalities that have completed property assessments

-  Renews call for effective international intervention to halt settler terrorism and address the growing risk of hunger in Gaza

-  Adds eight government health centers to the 13 already being equipped with solar energy systems

-  Discusses, at second reading, regulations governing scooter use and the draft decree-law on general amnesty

RAMALLAH, October 27, 2026 (WAFA) - The Cabinet paid tribute to the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the spirit of social solidarity in Hebron, Gaza, and refugee camps in the northern West Bank, as they confront the Israeli occupation’s machinery and displacement schemes. These schemes are being implemented through open collusion and coordination between the Israeli occupation forces and terrorist settlers, who committed 746 attacks against Palestinians and their property in just one week, particularly targeting olive harvesters, said a statement issued by the Government Communication Center.

At its weekly session on Tuesday, the Cabinet called on the international community and the Arab and Islamic nations to uphold their moral and legal responsibilities in response to the war crimes being committed against Palestinians in Hebron. These include the siege of neighborhoods, forcibly displacing Palestinians from their homes, and converting homes into military barracks. These actions have displaced hundreds of families, the majority of whom are women, children, and older people, alongside the demolition of homes and other structures.

The Cabinet also warned of a renewed risk of famine in the Gaza Strip amid acute shortages of flour and essential food supplies and the closure of additional bakeries in recent days. These closures have resulted from Israeli occupation restrictions on the entry of food supplies, alongside cuts to humanitarian assistance reaching the population.

In this context, the Cabinet approved NIS 1.5 million in emergency support for the Hebron Municipality through the Emergency Committee and the Governor’s Office. The funding will be allocated across several interventions to strengthen Palestinians’ resilience and address urgent needs arising from the Israeli occupation’s aggression. The Cabinet also directed that displaced families receive health insurance coverage through the end of the year, based on need, and instructed the relevant authorities to facilitate and expedite the completion of building permit procedures in the targeted areas of the governorate.

These measures complement recent approvals for infrastructure development in the city, including €4 million allocated through the Ministry of Local Government and the Municipal Development and Lending Fund, as well as US$2 million for municipal operations and job creation through the Hebron Municipality. They also build on previous allocations to various municipalities, distributed according to each local authority’s population density and classification based on governance procedures and public financial management.

As part of efforts to strengthen local authorities and increase their financial resources under the government’s initiative to ensure their sustainability, the Cabinet approved granting property tax collection powers, including the collection of penalties for late payment, to the municipal councils of Bani Zeid al-Gharbiyye, Zeita, Beit Kahil, and Halhul. These four municipalities join 50 others previously granted the same authority, bringing the total to 54 out of the 88 municipalities that have completed property assessment procedures.

The Cabinet approved adding eight government health centers to the 13 already being equipped with solar energy systems. This expansion will enhance the centers’ capacity to respond during emergencies, improve operational efficiency, and reduce costs.

On the occasion of Palestinian Women’s National Day, observed on Monday, the Cabinet paid tribute to the steadfastness and perseverance of Palestinian women as they confront the various challenges facing them at the national and social levels.

Regarding draft legislation and regulations, the Cabinet discussed at first reading two draft regulations submitted by the Ministry of Transport and Communications: the draft regulation governing the operation of dynamometer testing centers, and the draft regulation on the seizure and impoundment of unlicensed vehicles and their subsequent disposal.

At second reading, the Cabinet discussed regulations governing scooter use and the draft decree-law on general amnesty, which aims to reduce the backlog of criminal cases pending before the courts.

The Cabinet also approved a memorandum of understanding and cooperation between the Palestinian and Bahraini Ministries of Interior, as well as a memorandum of understanding between the Capital Market Authority and an international institution specializing in the financial leasing sector. The latter agreement is intended to support the Authority’s efforts to strengthen the sector’s financial soundness, enhance consumer protection and confidence, and develop its regulatory and supervisory framework.

T.R.