Ramallah: Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, in his opening remarks of the Cabinet weekly session on Tuesday, emphasized the urgent need to expedite the Government's decision on providing dignified and temporary shelter for displaced families in the northern West Bank. The initiative involves a mix of shelter centers, repairs to partially-damaged homes, and subsidized housing for families in dire need, coordinated with UNRWA, aiming to benefit over 6,000 families while intensifying efforts to mobilize additional funding.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, the Cabinet reiterated its appeal to the international community to pressure the Israeli occupation to open border crossings to allow the entry of critical medical and food supplies into Gaza. The Cabinet warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis amid severe shortages, depletion of relief and humanitarian aid stocks, and growing hunger, all while Israel's daily bombings and killings continue.
The recent attacks have destroyed equipment used for debris removal, road clearance, and waste collection, exacerbating the suffering of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The Prime Minister instructed all relevant authorities to raise preparedness levels due to the continued Israeli aggression on Jenin and its refugee camp for the 92nd consecutive day, and on Tulkarm and its camps for the 85th day.
These attacks have included forced displacement, widespread destruction of infrastructure, and home seizures as part of a systematic pattern targeting Palestinian cities and refugee camps. Prime Minister Mustafa urged international parties, particularly the United Nations, to act swiftly to protect civilians and stop ongoing violations of international humanitarian law.
To address shelter needs, the Ministry of Public Works has issued tenders for constructing two temporary shelter centers, one in Iktaba, Tulkarm, and another in Wadi Burqin, Jenin. These centers aim to provide dignified housing for displaced families currently lacking temporary shelter. Additional lands are being prepared to expand temporary shelter capacity, alongside efforts to mobilize resources for long-term reconstruction plans.
Responding to urgent field needs, the Government has completed work to level and open the Nablus-Tulkarm road, facilitating traffic and citizens' movement. About 30 vehicles from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Tulkarm Municipality, and private contractors were mobilized for the task, with continued emphasis on swift interventions to repair any affected sites, including homes impacted by the Israeli occupation aggression.
The Cabinet also reviewed proposals to develop the legal framework for product certification of Palestinian products to meet international standards and boost export potential. This would allow national products to be internationally recognized through Palestinian laboratories, eliminating the need for external lab approvals.
Additionally, the Cabinet discussed plans to create a government e-wallet as part of a broader initiative toward a digital economy and improved e-payment. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy, this step aims to strengthen electronic payment systems and promote financial inclusion, especially considering the exceptional challenges facing the Palestinian people and national economy.
