Palestinian Finance Minister to PNN: International Partners Back Reform Agenda

BRUSSELS / PNN / 
Palestinian Minister of Finance Dr. Istifan Salameh said the Palestinian government has received broad international support and praise for its reform agenda, adding that growing confidence among international partners is helping mobilize additional political and financial backing. He also said donor countries continue to press Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax revenues while securing additional funding for Gaza's health and humanitarian sectors.
Speaking exclusively to a group of Palestinian journalists invited by the European Union, including PNN correspondent Fairoz Odeh, Salameh said both the Palestinian Authority and the government had received "clear and exceptional recognition" from international partners for the progress made in implementing key reforms.
"The level of support was evident across the board," Salameh said. "It strengthens confidence in the Palestinian government and helps generate greater support for both the government and the Palestinian people."
Salameh, who accompanied Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa during meetings with senior European officials and the signing of new financial assistance agreements for the Palestinian government, said the issue of Israel's withholding of Palestinian clearance revenues featured prominently in discussions throughout the Brussels conference.
He said several international partners called for increased pressure on Israel to release the frozen funds, while noting that diplomatic efforts remain ongoing alongside initiatives led by international supporters of Palestine.
The minister acknowledged that expectations for an immediate breakthrough remain limited under Israel's current government but expressed hope that continued diplomatic efforts would produce results.
"Any progress on this issue will require genuine political pressure from international partners on the Israeli government," he said.
Salameh said education, healthcare and security remain the Palestinian government's top budget priorities, adding that international donors continue to focus primarily on strengthening the health sector.
He said recent diplomatic efforts had secured new donor commitments while also ensuring the implementation of previously pledged assistance.
Among the latest developments, Salameh announced that a long-awaited Spanish financial contribution had been transferred a day earlier to hospitals in the occupied West Bank. Discussions are continuing over an additional allocation that would also support healthcare services, he added.
The minister said new financial commitments had also been secured for the health sector, along with more limited support for the Palestinian government's treasury. He noted that the largest share of recently announced funding had been designated to support Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
According to Salameh, approximately $1 billion has been committed for Gaza.
"These are actual financial commitments, not merely promises," he said, expressing hope that the funds would begin reaching beneficiaries in the near future to support humanitarian relief and early recovery efforts.
Addressing the management of Gaza's recovery efforts, Salameh rejected suggestions of competing leadership roles, saying the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian government remained at the forefront of the international coordination process.
He noted that the Brussels meeting was co-chaired by the Palestinian government and the European Union and included broad international participation, including representatives of the Peace Council.
"The current phase requires unified efforts and close cooperation to support the Palestinian people in Gaza," Salameh said. "The government stands ready to work alongside all partners during the transitional period and is fully prepared to assume its responsibilities once that phase concludes."
Turning to the pharmaceutical sector, Salameh described medicines as a central component of the government's healthcare priorities amid severe financial pressures and growing needs across Palestinian medical institutions.
He said the government has held a series of meetings with pharmaceutical suppliers, including one on Thursday, alongside direct consultations aimed at ensuring uninterrupted deliveries of medicines and medical supplies to hospitals and healthcare centers.
The government has committed to providing suppliers with regular monthly payments based on available financial resources, he said, helping ease financial pressures while maintaining stable supply chains.
At the same time, Salameh said the government continues to mobilize international assistance specifically for pharmaceuticals as part of broader efforts to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian healthcare system and ensure uninterrupted medical services.
He praised Palestinian pharmaceutical manufacturers and suppliers for continuing to provide medicines to the Ministry of Health despite the government's financial difficulties.
"Their commitment reflects the strong partnership between the public and private sectors in safeguarding the healthcare system and ensuring that medicines and treatment remain available to citizens," Salameh said.
He added that the Palestinian government would continue working with international partners and the private sector to secure additional financing for healthcare, strengthen the sector's ability to respond to mounting challenges, and ensure the continued delivery of essential medical services across the occupied Palestinian territories. ...