The Most Important Development and Reform Interventions Implemented by the Government Last Week

Ramallah - Afaq News - The Government Communication Center issued a report highlighting the most important developmental and reform interventions implemented by the Palestinian government during the past week (20/09/2026 – 26/09/2026), as follows.

Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Mustafa emphasized in a speech during the International Coalition meeting to implement the two-state solution the necessity of transitioning from supporting the establishment of the Palestinian state to embodying it. He outlined five priorities until the end of 2027: protecting the people, land, and sovereignty; early recovery in Gaza and national unity; building a sustainable economy; enhancing Palestine's international status; and linking reform to the embodiment of the state. Mustafa also participated via video conference in a roundtable meeting on early recovery in the Gaza Strip, called by Egypt, Germany, France, and the European Commission, emphasizing that the priority is to move from relief to early recovery, restoring services, revitalizing the economy, enhancing the unity of Gaza and the West Bank, and translating international commitments into tangible results on the ground.

The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced the opening of the payment portal for university fees for the children of employees in the Gaza Strip and members of the security forces from their financial entitlements. The minister signed a grant agreement for students in medical specialties at Gaza universities, in addition to opening the door for student loans for the first semester of 2026-2027, announcing scholarships in Bangladesh, Cyprus, and Mauritania, and conducting a skills test for Gaza students wishing to enroll in medical, dental, and pharmacy specialties. The ministry also inaugurated the Abdul Jawad Saleh Higher Basic School in Al-Bireh at a cost of approximately 9.7 million shekels from the education tax, five new schools, and an additional floor for a school in Nablus education, and inspected the Yatta vocational school in preparation for its opening.

The Ministry of Social Development in the West Bank implemented food and non-food assistance, emergency cash, empowerment projects, and shopping vouchers for 208 families worth 42,400 shekels. It carried out hundreds of interventions to protect women, children, youth, orphans, the elderly, health insurance services, nurseries, associations, and more. In the Gaza Strip, 1,400 food interventions were implemented, 1,000 bundles of bread and 5,490 cups of water were distributed, along with 5,724 interventions for women's protection, 123 for child protection, and 160 interventions for orphans.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates met with the Italian Consul General in Jerusalem, discussing the latest developments and the enhancement of bilateral relations, urging Italy to recognize the State of Palestine. She also addressed in an interview with "Sputnik" the Israeli violations of international law, the displacement of Palestinians, settler terrorism, and attempts to silence Palestine at the United Nations. She received a call from the Australian Foreign Minister to discuss the field developments and bilateral relations.

The Ministry of Agriculture implemented more than 42,000 vaccination doses for 925 farmers and livestock breeders across various governorates. It opened 22.8 km of agricultural roads in Jenin that were excavated and rehabilitated in cooperation with the Land Research Center and the Together Foundation. Additionally, with funding from the Arab Society for the Protection of Nature, it carried out a comprehensive agricultural intervention in Khirbet Um al-Batam valued at approximately 62,000 shekels, benefiting 26 citizens. The ministry also held a meeting with farmers nominated for the second phase of the agricultural aid program funded by the European Union and implemented by the ministry, and conducted field visits to complete the verification procedures for beneficiaries and nominated projects. The program targets 17 farmers in northern Hebron with estimated grants of about 1.61 million shekels.

The Water Authority and its partners in the Gaza Strip carried out urgent maintenance works on water and sewage networks, benefiting about 54,000 citizens. They repaired the main "Mikrot" line, enhancing supply for about a quarter of a million citizens. Water supply was boosted in Bethlehem and Hebron through the operation of the new Al-Eizariya connection, supplying Birzeit with about 2000 m³ daily, rehabilitating the Far'a camp well, and studying an alternative source in Qabatiya. They continued to implement a project for about 900 household sewage connections in Tubas, Aqaba, and Tayaseer, serving more than 6,000 citizens and enhancing the use of treated water in agriculture and irrigation.

The Ministry of Public Works and Housing completed the final asphalt layer on several road projects, including the Amman Street in Jericho and the Jordan Valley, with a length of 1.5 km, and the Wadi al-Badhan-Far'a road. Additionally, they opened a fully organized shelter center in Deir al-Balah with a capacity of 175 tents named "Refugee Land."

The Ministry of Labor, in partnership with Save the Children, provided assistance to 97 women from Gaza who are located in the West Bank, with an amount of 775 shekels for each beneficiary. The Palestinian Employment Fund continued to implement recovery and employment projects in Gaza, which included employing beneficiaries, sorting applicants for training, collecting and transporting 9,230 m³ of waste, receiving 612 job applications, and approving 212 jobs. In the West Bank, 288 trainees benefited from vocational courses, alongside preparations for the new training year and the development of training centers. The ministry also conducted inspection visits that included 348 establishments and 8,023 workers, as well as occupational safety visits that included 63 establishments and 1,613 workers.

The Minister of Interior inspected the activities of the free medical week in Jenin, which benefited about 7,800 citizens with the participation of medical staff and more than 200 volunteers. He held a meeting with the leadership of the Jenin area and the directors of the security institution, emphasizing the importance of readiness, maintaining security and public order, and reinforcing the rule of law. The police arrested 1,277 wanted individuals, including 8 dangerous ones, executed 2,898 judicial warrants, and 53 drug control missions, while monitoring 266 criminal incidents. The Civil Defense carried out 216 firefighting missions and 83 rescue missions, issued 226 permits, inspected and licensed 233 elevators, and conducted 781 public safety rounds, while the customs control monitored 53 cases of tax and customs evasion and market oversight, destroying 3,529 tons of spoiled, unlicensed, and non-compliant goods.

The Energy and Natural Resources Authority rehabilitated 55 km of medium voltage networks, funded by the World Bank and the Norwegian government, to enhance supply stability and transfer about 150 megawatts of new capacity, reduce losses and faults, and support the connection of solar energy projects, while the project in Hebron provides about 30 megavolt-amperes additional to address the issue of interruptions.

The teams of the General Authority for Civil Affairs worked to secure farmers and citizens' access to their lands behind the wall and in contact areas, facilitate the entry of agricultural supplies and equipment, repair water, electricity, and sewage lines, secure the release of detainees, vehicles, and equipment, and reopen the Haris-Kifl Haris road, in addition to supporting municipal work and basic services in several areas.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications approved 4 structural plans to support urban and investment expansion and develop the road network, alongside the ongoing initiative to support farmers and license agricultural tractors in Qalqilya, intensifying traffic safety patrols and controlling violating vehicles, and launching a joint campaign to notify and remove random dumps.

The Minister of National Economy discussed support for the private sector and small projects with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The ministry conducted 64 inspection rounds and visited 452 commercial establishments, seizing about 1.5 tons and destroying 75 tons of unfit materials, and addressing 25 complaints.

The Minister of Local Government launched the emergency and rescue program to support local authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with the participation of about 1,200 youth, in partnership with several institutions, and it will last for 6 months. The ministry continued to implement community recovery projects and create job opportunities in Qabya, Al-Auja, Anin, Al-Samu, and Kafr Qaddum through the ministry.

The Ministry of Culture organized meetings and cultural events, workshops, and literary and artistic activities for children in Salfit, Kafr Deek, Bethlehem, Ramallah, Al-Bireh, Tubas, the Jordan Valley, and Jericho.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities signed an agreement to develop the heritage agricultural market in Beit Ur, and the minister and the Greek consul general conducted a tour of archaeological sites south of Hebron. A lecture was organized on the excavations of Talloulat-Anabta and the beginnings of urbanization in Palestine, and the popular song was documented at the Al-Samu Museum. Restoration of a historical building in Pharaoh is ongoing in preparation for its transformation into a sports center.

The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics monitored construction costs in the West Bank during August 2026, which saw an increase in most indicators, most notably the costs of skeleton buildings by 12%. The trade balance deficit for monitored goods decreased by 6% during July 2026, with exports rising by 32% to $208.9 million and imports increasing by 2% to $701.1 million. The bureau provided statistical data for about 65 entities from governmental and international institutions, researchers, media, universities, the private sector, and others.

The Environmental Quality Authority conducted 55 monitoring and inspection rounds, followed up on an environmental complaint, granted 6 environmental approvals and 5 permits for importing chemical materials, participated in field tours to reduce the risks of random dumps, enhanced coordination with local institutions in Dura, and participated in the opening of the Palestine Plastic Industries Exhibition in Hebron.

The Official Gazette published a legal research paper on the development of administrative judiciary in Palestine, and in cooperation with Al-Istiqal University and in partnership with the "Sawasiah 3" program, launched a professional diploma in legislative drafting and analysis. It concluded a training program for legal staff on aligning national legislation with gender standards.