Palestinian News Agency (WAFA)              December 3, 2024

   This, in its entirety, constitutes a complete war crime, and a failure of humanity and international law principles, demanding urgent and immediate action,» he said.

   «Gaza is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. It is a disaster-stricken area suffering from famine and destruction, with Israel, the occupying Power, using hunger as a weapon of war,» he added. «What we are witnessing in Gaza is a deliberate and systematic wide-scale starvation, not due to a lack of aid, but because of its obstruction and the hindering of the work of organizations and humanitarian teams.»

   This came during his speech at the Cairo Ministerial Conference to Strengthen Humanitarian Response in Gaza, under the title «A Year Since the Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza: Urgent Needs, Lasting Solutions,» held in Cairo, Egypt.

   The Prime Minister stressed that this important conference presents an opportunity to reiterate our rejection of the continued occupation of Gaza, the ongoing closure of its crossings, any geographical or demographic reduction of Gaza, or any of the land and territory of the State of Palestine.

   Mustafa called for urgent implementation of UN resolutions, particularly Security Council Resolution 2735, to stop the aggression and ensure the immediate and urgent delivery of aid to the Palestinian people. This would pave the way for the restoration of basic services such as healthcare and education and the beginning of the recovery process, leading to reconstruction, development, and restoring Gaza as an integral part of the State of Palestine with support from the international community.

   The Prime Minister stressed that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) role is irreplaceable and indispensable, highlighting its pivotal role in the post-war period, as it has been for 75 years in protecting and assisting Palestinian refugees in accordance with United Nations Resolution 194.

   Therefore, he urged, all Israeli laws targeting UNRWA must be rejected. He also thanked all the brotherly and friendly countries that support UNRWA and facilitate the entry of aid to the Palestinian people, especially the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

   The Prime Minister explained that despite the harsh and difficult conditions, including Israeli military assaults and attacks on West Bank cities and the illegal deduction of Palestinian tax revenues, the Government has been committed to continuing to provide all possible support to the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, particularly in providing essential services in the sectors of water, energy, telecommunications, social affairs, healthcare, education, financial services, and civil services.

   «The Government has coordinated and maximized humanitarian relief efforts in partnership with those providing them. We hope that the outcomes of this conference will reinforce these efforts. In addition to these urgent and vital efforts, the Government is leading the necessary planning phase for post-relief and humanitarian response.

   Ministries and government institutions are currently formulating plans for early recovery and reconstruction, preparing to launch the comprehensive development process,» Mustafa added. He pointed out that the Government has developed a plan to reunify and develop national institutions in both Gaza and the West Bank, enabling the expansion and development of existing civil services to meet citizens’ needs after the war. «

   The Government has also developed a plan to launch recovery efforts in Gaza and restore vital basic services, paving the way for economic revitalization in partnership with multiple international parties. A government team has been formed to prepare detailed plans for Gaza’s reconstruction and economic rebuilding in cooperation with national institutions, the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union, and the team is in advanced stages of preparing these plans,» the Prime Minister continued.

   «To ensure effective governance and full transparency, we have developed a comprehensive vision to establish an independent, professional body to oversee reconstruction efforts. This will be complemented by the creation of a financial trust fund dedicated to mobilizing and directing donor funding toward Gaza’s reconstruction needs, in cooperation with the World Bank, in line with international standards and best practices,” he added.

   Mustafa also said: «We have put in place a plan to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of the national economy by establishing the foundations for sustainable and inclusive growth, stimulating both private and public investment capable of generating job opportunities and increasing government revenues, ultimately reducing long-term dependence on donor assistance.»

   Mustafa emphasized that the partnership and humanitarian support being discussed at this conference represent an investment in the steadfastness and future of the Palestinian people, preserving their dignity and strengthening the community’s capacity for recovery and rebuilding, sending a powerful message of hope to our people that the world will not leave them alone.