Ramallah: Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa has directed government institutions to intensify programs supporting citizens' steadfastness, particularly in areas targeted by Israeli occupation forces and settler gangs. This directive comes amid warnings from the Palestinian Cabinet about a dangerous escalation in crimes committed by terrorist settler militias, which have recently resulted in the killing of eight Palestinian citizens in Deir Abu Falah, Qaryut, and Yatta.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Cabinet has expressed grave concern that the systematic unleashing of settler terrorism, amidst global preoccupations with wars and crises, poses a serious threat of escalating into acts of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians. The lack of international accountability and justice is seen as a factor encouraging the continuation and escalation of such crimes.
Dr. Mustafa's directive to activate programs aimed at supporting citizens and strengthening their resilience reflects the government's commitment to protect and uphold the rights of Palestinians in the face of these challenges. The Cabinet also condemned Israel's ongoing violations of the ceasefire and the targeting of tents sheltering displaced people. These actions have reportedly increased the death toll to approximately 645 martyrs since October 2025, with nearly half being women, children, and the elderly, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
Furthermore, Minister of Finance and Planning Dr. Estephan Salameh presented the 2026 budget framework, outlining it as an emergency budget based on actual cash flow. The Ministry of Finance will spend only the available liquidity to ensure the provision of essential services such as education, health, and security, while controlling expenditures and enhancing domestic revenues. The government plans to continue partial payment of public sector salaries until clearance revenues are restored.
The Palestinian Cabinet emphasized that these measures do not replace the people's rights to the clearance revenues withheld by the Israeli government, amounting to approximately $5 billion. The Cabinet renewed its call for international partners to increase pressure on Israel to release these funds without delay.
