Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa's Speech at the Cairo Conference on Humanitarian Response in Gaza
Mustafa: What is happening in Gaza is a complete war crime, a failure of humanity, and a violation of international law principles.
Mustafa: UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 2735, must be implemented to stop the aggression and ensure the immediate and urgent delivery of aid to our people.
Mustafa: Despite the harsh conditions we are going through, the government remains committed to providing all possible support to our people in Gaza.
Cairo – Prime Minister's Office: Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa stated: "Gaza continues to suffer from an ongoing genocide for over 14 months, with systematic and widespread destruction of more than 80% of the infrastructure, particularly hospitals, schools, water and sewage lines, amidst the spread of diseases, and the lack of electricity, water, and fuel. This constitutes a complete war crime, a failure of humanity, and a violation of international law that demands urgent action."
He added: "Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, a devastated region suffering from famine and destruction, where Israel is using hunger as a weapon of war. We are witnessing deliberate and systematic starvation, not due to a lack of aid, but because of its blockade and the obstruction of humanitarian organizations' work."
This was during his speech at the Cairo Ministerial Conference on Strengthening Humanitarian Response in Gaza, titled "One Year After the Humanitarian Disaster in Gaza: Urgent Needs and Sustainable Solutions," held today, Monday, in Cairo.
The Prime Minister emphasized that this important conference serves as an opportunity to reaffirm our rejection of the ongoing Israeli occupation of Gaza, its continued closure of crossings, or any attempts to alter Gaza's geography or demography, or any part of the Palestinian state.
Mustafa called for the swift implementation of UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 2735, to stop the aggression and ensure the immediate and urgent delivery of aid to our people, which would pave the way for the restoration of basic services like healthcare and education, the rebuilding process, and Gaza's return to its natural place as an inseparable part of Palestine, with international support.
The Prime Minister stressed the irreplaceable role of UNRWA in both the post-war phase, as it has been for 75 years in providing protection and aid to Palestinian refugees under UN Resolution 194. He urged the rejection of all Israeli laws targeting UNRWA and expressed gratitude to all countries that support UNRWA and facilitate the delivery of aid to our people, especially Egypt and Jordan.
Mustafa thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and the Egyptian people for hosting this crucial conference, especially during these difficult times, and conveyed the greetings of the Palestinian leadership, led by President Mahmoud Abbas. He also thanked UN Secretary-General António Guterres, his deputy, representatives of all participating countries, UN and regional institutions, and relief organizations for their efforts in providing and securing the delivery of aid despite the challenges their officials and workers face.
He explained that the government has continued to provide all possible assistance to our people in Gaza despite the harsh conditions, including Israeli incursions and attacks in the West Bank cities and the deduction of Palestinian tax revenues, particularly in providing essential services in water, energy, communications, social affairs, healthcare, education, and civil services.
The Prime Minister added: "The government has coordinated and maximized humanitarian relief efforts in partnership with its providers, and we hope the outcomes of this conference will enhance those efforts. In addition to these immediate and vital efforts, the government is leading the planning phase for post-relief and humanitarian response, where ministries and government institutions are currently working on early recovery and reconstruction plans, paving the way for comprehensive development."
Mustafa noted that the government has developed a plan to reunite and develop national institutions in Gaza and the West Bank, enabling the expansion and development of existing civil services to meet the needs of citizens post-war.
He further mentioned that the government has developed a plan for recovery in Gaza and the restoration of essential services, as well as revitalizing the economy in partnership with international stakeholders. A government team has been formed to prepare detailed plans for Gaza's reconstruction and economic rebuilding, in collaboration with national institutions, the World Bank, the UN, and the EU. The team is already at an advanced stage in preparing these plans.
Mustafa continued: "To ensure effective governance and full transparency, we have developed a complete vision for establishing an independent and professional body to oversee reconstruction efforts. This will be followed by the creation of a financial trust fund to mobilize and direct donor funding towards Gaza's reconstruction needs, in collaboration with the World Bank, in line with international standards and best practices."
He said: "We have developed a plan to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the national economy by laying the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth, stimulating both private and public investment that can create job opportunities, increase government revenues, and reduce long-term reliance on donor aid."
Mustafa added: "We have developed a plan to enhance the performance of public institutions through necessary legislative, administrative, and financial reforms, in line with our national priorities, to ensure the efficient delivery of services to citizens in all Palestinian governorates, enhance transparency and accountability, support the rule of law, and strengthen partnerships with civil society, enabling us to rebuild Gaza just as we are doing in the West Bank."
The Prime Minister affirmed that the partnership and support for humanitarian aid, which is the focus of this conference, is an investment in the resilience and future of the Palestinian people, preserving their dignity, enhancing the community's ability to recover and rebuild, and sending a message of hope to our people that the world will not leave them alone.
Latest News
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.
