On the Second Day of the Third Global Disability Summit – Berlin: Dr. Samah Hamad Highlights the Impact of Forced Disability Caused by Aggression and Calls for Strengthening the Resilience of Persons with Disabilities
Berlin – Amid growing international attention to issues of justice and human dignity, Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs and Minister of Social Development, Dr. Samah Hamad, continued her participation in the Third Global Disability Summit (GDS-2025), held in the German capital, Berlin, under the patronage of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The summit witnessed the presence of H.E. Ambassador Laith Arafa, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the Federal Republic of Germany, alongside representatives of governments, international organizations, and experts from around the world.
Dr. Hamad took part in the second day of the summit, which included sessions on technological innovation and the situation of persons with disabilities in Gaza, in addition to a series of bilateral meetings with international and UN officials.
In a session titled “Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship: Supporting Independent Living for Persons with Disabilities,” Dr. Hamad emphasized that technology in Palestine—particularly in Gaza—is no longer a luxury, but a lifeline. She explained that people rely on technology to locate water and food and to survive under siege. She praised Palestinian youth for developing smart applications and stressed the need to continue supporting initiatives targeting the most affected groups, especially persons with disabilities, women, and children. She also thanked the League of Arab States and partner countries for their role in preventing displacement and supporting Palestinian resilience.
In another session titled “Perspectives of Persons with Disabilities and Stakeholders on the Situation in Gaza,” Dr. Hamad described the daily suffering of people in Gaza, noting that even rainfall has become a tragedy amid flooded tents. She stated that the Israeli occupation does not differentiate in its violations between persons with disabilities, women, and children, and she called for the immediate opening of crossings and the entry of humanitarian aid, highlighting that 37 consecutive days had passed without a single truck entering Gaza, worsening conditions during Ramadan and Eid.
For his part, Ambassador Laith Arafa affirmed that Palestine’s participation in the summit represented a powerful presence of a just cause facing a systematic war of extermination. He noted that over 200,000 injuries in Gaza threaten to result in one of the highest rates of permanent disability in modern history, which necessitates a strong international response. He thanked Jordan and Germany for organizing the summit and expressed appreciation to all participants who raised the voice of freedom for Palestine in the halls of the conference, affirming that the human conscience cannot be silenced.
On the sidelines of the summit, Dr. Hamad met with Mr. Niels Annen, State Secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, where they discussed ways to strengthen support for social protection programs in Palestine and ensure the sustainability of services for persons with disabilities amidst ongoing crises.
She also met with Dr. Heba Hagrass, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and discussed the importance of developing monitoring and documentation mechanisms for violations against persons with disabilities, particularly in conflict zones. Dr. Hamad stressed the need to include the Palestinian context in international reports on this issue.
In a virtual meeting via Zoom, Dr. Samah Hamad spoke with Pablo Amdor Bustindoi, Spain’s Minister of Social Affairs, to discuss opportunities for cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of social protection, and the financing of programs aimed at vulnerable groups, including persons with disabilities.
Dr. Hamad also visited the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Berlin, where she met with the embassy staff and was briefed on their efforts to support the Palestinian delegation at the summit and coordinate with official bodies and international organizations. She expressed appreciation for the embassy’s role, under the leadership of Ambassador Laith Arafa, in amplifying Palestine’s voice on the international stage and strengthening the official presence of disability-related issues.
This participation comes within the broader effort of the State of Palestine to raise its voice internationally, shed light on the suffering of persons with disabilities, and enhance their presence on the global agenda of justice and human rights.
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On World Children's Day, MoSD: Palestinian Children Face Harsh Realities of Loss, Displacement, Violence, & Deprivation
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