Ramallah: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa opened the weekly Cabinet session on Tuesday by briefing members on the political and diplomatic efforts led by President Mahmoud Abbas and Palestinian diplomacy to mobilize greater international support for the Palestinian cause.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Prime Minister is set to participate next week in the meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, to be held in Brussels. This is part of efforts to revive the political track and intensify international pressure toward the realization of the Palestinian state, in addition to attending the donors' conference aimed at securing increased financial support for the Palestinian people under the current challenging circumstances.
During the session, the Cabinet warned of the worsening fuel shortage crisis in the Gaza Strip, which poses a serious risk of forcing the shutdown of the remaining partially functioning health facilities. Many of these facilities have already sustained damage, raising concerns of a further collapse of the healthcare system.
The Cabinet called for intensified international efforts and effective pressure to lift Israeli restrictions on the entry of food supplies into Gaza, amid severe shortages of medical supplies, medicines, and basic necessities. It also urged the acceleration of the implementation of the internationally agreed ceasefire plan, warning that continued delays will deepen citizens' suffering and exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation.
On a related note, the Cabinet emphasized the need for more serious international action and concrete measures to halt the escalating crimes of Israeli colonial settlers. The past week saw 129 attacks targeting 17 Palestinian villages, resulting in the martyrdom of one citizen, dozens of injuries, and significant property damage, particularly in the Jerusalem area. This includes repeated incursions by Israeli extremists into Al-Aqsa Mosque, as reported by the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.
Furthermore, the Cabinet underscored the need for the international community to adopt firm and concrete measures in response to Israeli policies and actions. This includes the recent approval by the Israeli Cabinet to establish 34 new settlements in the West Bank, marking the largest expansion step of its kind to date. The Cabinet views this as a grave and flagrant violation of international law, undermining prospects for peace.
In light of the continued full withholding of Palestinian tax revenues by the Israeli occupation for nearly a year-amounting to approximately 68% of total public revenues-the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, is maintaining round-the-clock efforts across multiple tracks to secure a partial salary payment for public employees early next week. The Palestinian Government reiterated its call for increased international pressure to end the Israeli occupation's crimes and unlawful measures, particularly to secure the release of withheld clearance revenues, which exceed NIS 15 billion.
In addition to these developments, the Cabinet reviewed routine administrative matters, including the first reading of draft amendments to the regulation governing women's protection centers. These amendments aim to strengthen safeguards and align procedures with best practices to ensure enhanced protection for abused women, particularly in shelter facilities.