Palestine, at the social summit in Detroit, is facing child starvation and a lack of social protection

During the Second World Summit on Social Development held in Doha, the statement of the State of Palestine was presented by H.E. Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Acting Minister of State for Relief Affairs. Dr. Hamad affirmed that what is happening in Palestine constitutes a systematic dismantling of the social fabric and a deliberate destruction of the foundations of life. She called on the international community to stop the “starvation of children” and to rebuild a social protection system founded on justice and rights.

Dr. Hamad stated that the Palestinian people are not facing a natural famine but an imposed blockade, pointing out that the occupation and war have destroyed homes, schools, and hospitals, turning daily life into an ongoing humanitarian tragedy. She emphasized that the reconstruction of Gaza must mean restoring humanity, not merely rebuilding walls. She noted that the government’s plan for relief, early recovery, and reconstruction — which includes 18 sectors and hundreds of projects — outlines a pathway for transition from crisis to sustainable development by linking immediate relief to long-term reconstruction.

The Minister also stressed that the Ministry of Social Development continues to reach the most vulnerable groups — including children, women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities — providing shelter services, cash assistance, and psychosocial and social care that preserves human dignity. She affirmed that Palestine is ready to lead this effort through national plans and strong, transparent institutions.

On the sidelines of the summit, the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development, in cooperation with the State of Qatar, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UNICEF, organized a side event entitled “The Multidimensional Impacts on Social Development and Social Fabric in Palestine: Innovative Solutions for Social Protection and Justice.”

The event shed light on the suffering of Palestinian families under occupation and the devastating impacts of the blockade and aggression on social development. It underscored the need to rebuild the social fabric through a rights-based and shock-responsive protection system. The discussions called for strengthening international partnerships and launching a global support platform for Palestinian social reconstruction based on justice and sustainability, stressing that the suffering of the Palestinian people must remain at the heart of the global social development agenda.

Dr. Hamad also expressed her gratitude to the United Nations for its continued support to the Palestinian people, highlighting the importance of maintaining this cooperation amid the dire humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. During her meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, both sides emphasized the need to enhance coordination between UN agencies and Palestinian ministries to ensure the effectiveness of relief efforts in the Strip.

Dr. Hamad stressed the importance of ensuring that Palestine and its cause occupy a prominent position among the priorities of the Social Development Summit, given the escalating humanitarian suffering of the Palestinian people, which requires a fair and comprehensive international response.

The event was attended by H.E. Dr. Maya Morsi, Minister of Social Solidarity of the Arab Republic of Egypt; H.E. Wafaa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; and the Assistant Secretary-General for Social Affairs, along with the representative of the United Nations Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD). Participants discussed ways to enhance the inclusion of persons with disabilities in contexts of emergency, recovery, and development.

Dr. Hamad also met with H.E. Buthaina Al-Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family in the State of Qatar, to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and coordination between the two sides in the social and humanitarian fields, including support for protection and care programs for affected groups in Palestine. The meeting addressed mechanisms for exchanging expertise in developing social protection systems and women’s empowerment, as well as expanding programs targeting orphans, poor families, and those affected by the aggression on the Gaza Strip, in line with national recovery and reconstruction plans.

Dr. Hamad expressed her appreciation to the State of Qatar for its supportive positions toward the Palestinian people and its ongoing role in supporting developmental and social efforts, stressing the importance of continued Arab coordination to achieve sustainable and comprehensive responses.