Minister Hamad Calls on the European Commissioner for Equality
Ramallah – Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief Affairs, met on Friday with Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, to discuss the humanitarian situation in Palestine and ways to strengthen humanitarian response efforts and support Palestinian institutions amid the ongoing war and the worsening humanitarian and economic conditions.
During the meeting, Dr. Hamad emphasized the importance of continued European support for the Palestinian people, expressing appreciation for the European Commission’s commitment to sustaining humanitarian funding in Palestine at a time when humanitarian needs are increasing while available response resources continue to decline.
The Minister presented an overview of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, noting that more than 2.1 million Palestinians remain in need of humanitarian assistance, while approximately 320,000 children under the age of five are suffering from acute malnutrition. She stressed that children continue to bear the heaviest burden of the war, with more than 21,000 children killed and approximately 637,000 students deprived of regular education due to the destruction of most educational facilities. She also noted that more than 40,000 patients and injured individuals require medical treatment outside Gaza amid limited medical evacuations and the continued deterioration of the healthcare system.
Dr. Hamad also addressed the situation in the West Bank, noting that more than 50,000 Palestinians have been displaced, including over 33,000 refugees from Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps, as a result of ongoing military operations and escalating settler violence, which has become a major driver of displacement, loss of livelihoods, and growing humanitarian needs.
The Minister stressed that the humanitarian crisis cannot be separated from the economic and financial challenges facing Palestine. She noted that approximately 200,000 Palestinian workers have lost their sources of income, while Israel continues to withhold Palestinian clearance revenues, the cumulative value of which has reached approximately USD 5.7 billion. This has a direct impact on the Government’s ability to finance essential services and social protection, health, and education programs.
Dr. Hamad also highlighted the Ministry’s efforts to develop the National Social Registry and the Registry of Affected Households, emphasizing the importance of adopting Palestinian national systems and databases as a unified reference framework to improve the efficiency of humanitarian response, ensure assistance reaches those most in need, and strengthen coordination among humanitarian actors.
She further noted that, in partnership with national and international organizations, the Ministry has successfully delivered emergency cash assistance to more than 340,000 households in the Gaza Strip. She emphasized the importance of moving beyond short-term humanitarian interventions toward an integrated approach that links humanitarian relief, social protection, livelihoods, and economic empowerment, thereby strengthening the resilience of Palestinian families and reducing long-term dependence on emergency assistance.
Dr. Hamad stressed that the prolonged nature of the crisis requires more sustainable responses, explaining that Palestinians need not only humanitarian assistance, but also access to education, employment opportunities, and essential services that enable them to preserve their dignity and strengthen their capacity to cope with mounting challenges.
She called for enhanced coordination between the Palestinian Government, the European Commission, United Nations agencies, and humanitarian partners, and for aligning humanitarian financing with Palestinian national priorities and plans, in order to strengthen the ability of Palestinian institutions to lead relief and recovery efforts and ensure the continuity of essential services.
The Minister emphasized that Palestine requires urgent humanitarian support, but also strong national institutions and stable public services. She stressed that supporting Palestinian institutions is an investment in resilience, stability, and the capacity of Palestinian society to confront growing challenges.
For her part, European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting the Palestinian people and underscored the European Commission’s determination to continue coordinating with the Palestinian Government and international partners to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance and enhance the effectiveness of responses to growing needs.