Minister of Social Development Participates in the International Family Conference in Doha and Discusses Support for Palestinian Families
Doha, Qatar – In an initiative that reflects human and national spirit, Her Excellency Minister of Social Development, Dr. Samah Hamad, participated in the opening of the International Conference on Family and Contemporary Major Trends, held in Doha from October 29 to 31. The conference attracts a distinguished group of international personalities and leaders to highlight the challenges and opportunities facing families in the context of modern transformations. During her participation in the panel discussion on family policies in the Arab world, comparing them with best practices globally, the Minister addressed the humanitarian challenges faced by Palestinian families under Israeli occupation. Dr. Hamad confirmed that Palestinian families are enduring daily hardships that threaten their very existence, pointing out the ongoing aggression on Gaza and its consequences, including the displacement of thousands of Palestinians and the martyrdom of over 42,000 individuals. This worsens the humanitarian crises and tears apart the social fabric. She also highlighted the shortage of basic necessities, including clean water and hygiene materials, which has forced some women to shave their heads due to the lack of sufficient water for bathing.
Dr. Hamad added that despite the difficult circumstances, Palestinian families prove their resilience and cohesion, citing achievements in education and healthcare. She mentioned that Palestine has successfully eradicated polio and provided e-learning to over 300,000 students despite the ongoing war. She praised the use of technology in delivering life-saving services and education to Palestinian children, despite the challenges imposed by the blockade.
In the context of strengthening bilateral cooperation between Palestine and Qatar, Her Excellency held several important meetings. She met with Her Excellency Minister of Social Development and Family Affairs of Qatar, Dr. Mariam Al-Misnad, thanking her for Qatar’s support of Palestine’s just cause and explaining the continuous aggression inflicted on the Palestinian people and the catastrophic impact it has, especially in Gaza, the West Bank, and Jerusalem.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Minister also met with Her Excellency Minister of Family and Social Services of Turkey, Mrs. Mahinur Özdemir, and held meetings with representatives from the Qatar Red Crescent, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Development Fund to discuss ways to enhance humanitarian and social support for the resilience of Palestinian families and provide necessary care for the wounded and injured.
Her Excellency also visited Al Thumama Complex, accompanied by the Ambassador of Palestine in Qatar, Fayyad Abu Raba, and Adviser Khaloud Al-Lahham. She met with several Palestinian wounded individuals who had been transferred to Qatar for treatment and was briefed on the services and programs provided for their care and the care of their companions. Officials from the housing department presented an overview of the efforts made to support the recovery of the injured and restore hope to them through specialized programs. This visit embodied the deep solidarity between the two sister countries and their commitment to providing assistance and support to those in need.
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On the International Day for the Elimination of Child Marriage, MoSD Affirms: Protecting Girls Begins with Education, Protection, & Family Empowerment
Ramallah – On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that child marriage cannot be addressed in isolation from the broader social protection system, as it is linked to multiple factors, including poverty, school dropout, domestic violence, loss of parental care, displacement, and weakened protection networks. The Ministry explained that its role includes protecting children and girls at risk, providing case management, family interventions, psychosocial support, and referral services, and connecting families with assistance, essential services, and economic empowerment programmes. It also coordinates with relevant authorities when the safety of a child or girl is at risk. The Ministry places the best interests of the child and protection from exploitation and abuse at the heart of its child protection services. The Ministry stressed that preventing early marriage also requires protecting families from poverty and economic shocks, supporting girls' continued access to education, raising awareness of their rights, and strengthening families' ability to cope with pressures without resorting to practices that may expose girls to long-term physical, psychological, and social risks. The issue is particularly concerning in the Gaza Strip, where the Ministry warned that the loss of parental care, displacement, extreme poverty, and the declining capacity of extended families to provide care and protection increase children's vulnerability to various forms of exploitation, including early marriage. In this context, the Ministry continues to work with local and international organizations involved in child and women's protection to strengthen early intervention, referral pathways, alternative care, and psychosocial support, alongside assistance to the most vulnerable families to reduce the risk factors that may contribute to early marriage. The Ministry called for child marriage to be addressed as a child protection and human rights issue requiring coordinated action among families and social, educational, health, and legal institutions. It also called for increased investment in girls' education, protection, and empowerment to safeguard their right to grow, learn, and make decisions about their future freely and safely.
On World Children's Day, MoSD: Palestinian Children Face Harsh Realities of Loss, Displacement, Violence, & Deprivation
Ramallah – On the occasion of World Children's Day, observed annually on 20 November, the Ministry of Social Development emphasized that Palestinian children are facing extremely harsh conditions amid the continuing consequences of the Israeli military offensive on the Gaza Strip and escalating attacks, displacement, home demolitions, and movement restrictions in the West Bank, including Jerusalem. These conditions have deprived children of their lives, families, shelter, education, care, and safety. According to available United Nations data, at least 21,700 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip, while approximately 45,000 have been injured, including more than 11,000 children who have sustained life-altering injuries. Meanwhile, thousands of families continue to experience repeated displacement and deprivation of essential services. In the West Bank, including Jerusalem, children continue to face attacks, forced displacement of families, and damage to schools, homes, and infrastructure. More than 1,700 children have been displaced since the beginning of 2026 as a result of settler violence, movement restrictions, and demolitions. The Ministry stressed that the consequences of war and occupation extend beyond immediate casualties to include bereavement, family separation, hunger, school dropout, child labour, violence, exploitation, acquired disabilities, and psychological and social distress. These risks require a comprehensive and long-term child protection response. The Ministry explained that child protection is a central pillar of its work, implemented through Child Protection Departments in its directorates. These departments receive reports, assess levels of risk, provide case management and family follow-up, facilitate referrals to specialized services, and intervene in cases of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect. Their responsibilities also include protecting children engaged in labour or begging, children who have dropped out of school, and children in conflict with the law, in coordination with relevant government authorities and partner organizations. In the Gaza Strip, children's protection and care needs have intensified significantly, particularly among orphans, children deprived of parental care, separated and unaccompanied children, and those requiring psychosocial support. In cooperation with its partners, the Ministry is working to provide alternative care, social follow-up, sponsorship programmes, psychological support, and food, health, and in-kind assistance, while strengthening and restoring child protection services across the Gaza Strip. The Ministry emphasized that protecting children is inseparable from protecting their families. Accordingly, child protection services form part of a broader social protection system encompassing food, cash, and non-food assistance, health insurance, education, school bags and stationery, psychosocial support, services for persons with disabilities, and family economic empowerment. These interventions aim to reduce the risks associated with poverty, displacement, loss of income, and family instability. The Ministry of Social Development called on the international community, United Nations agencies, humanitarian organizations, and donors to provide sustainable support for the Palestinian child protection system. It urged continued funding for alternative care programmes, orphan sponsorship, psychosocial support, education, nutrition, and rehabilitation, alongside support for Palestinian national institutions capable of reaching children and families and ensuring sustained follow-up. The Ministry concluded by emphasizing that World Children's Day cannot be merely an occasion for celebration while Palestinian children are deprived of their most fundamental rights. It stressed that protecting children begins with safeguarding their right to life and extends to ensuring their rights to family care, shelter, food, education, healthcare, protection, and social support.
