Prime Minister Mustafa Engages with European and International Officials in Brussels

Gaza: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa held meetings with several European and international officials on Monday during the second ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group in Brussels. He was accompanied by Minister of Finance and Planning Estephan Salameh, Palestine's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the European Union Amal Jadou Shakaa, and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs Omar Awadallah. According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the discussions included Norwegian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik, British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee, German Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Reem Alabali-Radovan, and Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank Anna Bjerde. During these meetings, Prime Minister Mustafa highlighted the latest developments and the deteriorating humanitari an conditions due to ongoing Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank, such as restrictions on movement, daily raids, and land seizures for colonial expansion. In particular, Mustafa drew attention to the dire situation in the Gaza Strip, emphasizing the severe shortages of supplies and the need for reconstruction and recovery efforts. He underscored the essential role of UNRWA and other organizations in providing necessary services to the population in Gaza, asserting that there is currently no viable alternative to their involvement. Mustafa also addressed the financial crisis facing the Palestinian government, exacerbated by Israel's withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues. He urged for increased international pressure on Israel to release these funds to prevent the collapse of Palestinian institutions. Despite the government's efforts to maintain public services amid a significant fiscal deficit, Mustafa noted that options are becoming increasingly limited. The Prime Minister accused Israeli po licies of weakening the State of Palestine economically by withholding clearance revenues, creating a surplus of Israeli shekels in Palestinian banks, and preventing Palestinian workers from reaching their jobs in Israel. This has led to billions of dollars in losses for the Palestinian economy annually. Looking forward, Mustafa announced the government's commitment to a program of democratic renewal, including local elections in the West Bank and a pilot electoral process in Deir al-Balah in Gaza. He also mentioned the preparations for parliamentary elections scheduled for November 28, emphasizing the need for international support and pressure on Israel to ensure the elections occur without hindrance in East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. The international officials present echoed the call for Israel to release the withheld Palestinian funds and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Palestinian institutional stability and recovery efforts in Gaza. They expressed concern over the humanitarian crisis and the stalled political process, while also recognizing the Palestinian government's progress in reform and institutional development.