Press Release Issued by the MoSD
On the Occasion of the Arab Day for Older Persons – 10 October 2025
The Ministry of Social Development reaffirms, on the occasion of the Arab Day for Older Persons—observed on the 10th of October—its steadfast commitment to protecting the rights of older persons and ensuring their dignity and well-being, in line with the Arab Strategy for Older Persons (2019–2029) issued by the Council of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs.
This year’s commemoration comes amid tragic humanitarian conditions faced by older persons in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip, which continues to endure one of the longest and most devastating wars. Older persons suffer from displacement, loss of shelter, disruption of health services, and shortages of food and medicine, all of which pose direct threats to their lives and health. In the West Bank, daily assaults and violations continue to restrict their freedom of movement and limit their access to health and social care.
Older persons, who constitute about 6% of the total population—approximately 349,000 individuals—represent the living memory of the Palestinian national struggle and remain a cornerstone of the country’s social cohesion.
Through the Government Operations Room and in cooperation with national and international partners, the Ministry continues to implement urgent interventions to ensure the protection of older persons. These include cash and relief assistance, psychosocial support, residential and home care services, as well as free health insurance coverage. Nearly 41,000 beneficiaries across all governorates have benefited from these interventions.
The Ministry is also working to expand day-care and home-based care services and to develop support programs for older persons in all governorates, in cooperation with civil society organizations, to enhance their dignity and active participation in community life. These services are provided through one ministry-run center and five additional centers contracted through the service-purchase system, ensuring comprehensive care and support for older persons throughout the country.
In conclusion, the Ministry calls on the local and international community to partner with it in assuming the legal and humanitarian responsibility of protecting older Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank, and to hold the occupying power accountable for its violations against them. The Ministry affirms that older persons in Palestine will remain a symbol of resilience, willpower, and national dignity.
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On World Children's Day, MoSD: Palestinian Children Face Harsh Realities of Loss, Displacement, Violence, & Deprivation
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