Prime Minister Sponsors Signing of Grant Agreements Worth Nearly $10 Million to Support Infrastructure, Health, and Restoration Projects

SadaNews - Under the patronage and presence of Prime Minister Dr. Mohamed Mustafa, four grant agreements totaling approximately $10 million were signed today, Wednesday, at the Prime Minister's office. These grants, provided by the Al-Aqsa Fund through the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and the Islamic Development Bank, aim to support infrastructure, road, health projects, and the restoration of residential buildings and public institutions in Jerusalem. The signing was attended by several ministers, the Governor of the Islamic Development Bank for Palestine, Minister of Finance Istifan Salama, the representative of the Al-Aqsa Fund in Palestine, Prime Minister Advisor for Arab and Islamic Funds Nasser Qataimi, the Islamic Development Bank advisor in the West Bank and Jerusalem Ikhlas Al-Ratrot, the representative of the Director-General of the United Nations Development Programme, Jacko Silvers, and the heads of the benefitting local authorities.

The grants are distributed among projects for the Ministry of Local Government, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, and the United Nations Development Programme, aimed at improving basic services and strengthening the steadfastness of citizens in various governorates.

The first agreement, valued at $4.94 million, was signed by Nasser Qataimi on behalf of the Al-Aqsa Fund and Minister of Local Government Sami Hijawi. It includes interventions in 25 local authorities within the sectors of roads and water, involving the rehabilitation and paving of internal roads in 21 local authorities located in the governorates of Ramallah and Al-Bireh, Nablus, Tulkarem, Jenin, Salfit, Tubas, Bethlehem, Hebron, and Jerusalem, in addition to implementing water lines in Al-Malha and Al-Fawwar camp and operating artesian wells in Qabatia and Aqraba.

The following local authorities will benefit from the project: Surif, Al-Ramadeen, Kharras, Yatta, Al-Khadr, Nahalin, Al-Malha, Dar Salah, Al-Thubaira, Tammun, Al-Zawiya, Yasouf, Qabatia, Jaba, Rummana, Baqa Al-Sharqiya, Allar, Kfar Aboush, Aqraba, Beit Furik, Beit Dajan, Qatna, Jamala, Beitin, and Al-Fawwar camp.

Meanwhile, the second agreement, valued at $2.52 million, was signed by Nasser Qataimi and Minister of Public Works and Housing Ahed Bseiso, to finance three main road projects in the governorates of Ramallah and Al-Bireh and Tulkarem.

These projects will benefit the towns of Ibbween, Rawabi, Attara, Yabrud, Silwad, Safarin, Kfar Sour, and Al-Ras, contributing to enhancing connectivity between towns to support urban growth and traffic movement, as well as providing safe alternative roads in emergency closure situations.

With regard to supporting the steadfastness of Jerusalemites, the third agreement worth $1 million was signed between Nasser Qataimi and the representative of the Director-General of the United Nations Development Programme, Jacko Silvers, to finance a project for restoring residential buildings and public institutions in the Old City of Jerusalem, as a continuation of the ongoing restoration project being implemented by the Cooperation Foundation worth $1 million.

Additionally, a $1 million agreement was signed between the Al-Aqsa Fund and the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, alongside a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health and the society to implement a project for the implantation and updating of approximately 75 electronic cochlear implants for hearing-impaired children from various governorates in the West Bank.

Prime Minister Dr. Mohamed Mustafa confirmed that these projects are part of national efforts to enhance the steadfastness of citizens in the face of current challenges.

He said, "Our main goal is to maintain the steadfastness of the Palestinian citizen wherever they are, whether in Gaza, Jerusalem, or the West Bank, and not to allow our people to be displaced or uprooted from their land. All the programs we implement are directed towards this goal."

He added, "The group of projects we are launching today are not merely service projects; they are a direct contribution to resilience through development, construction, and the ongoing provision of services to citizens despite the difficult circumstances."

The Prime Minister applauded the continuous Arab and Islamic support for Palestine, stating, "The Islamic Development Bank and the Al-Aqsa Fund have proven a true and sustainable commitment to Palestine, and we thank all the countries and institutions that continue to support our people and programs for development and resilience." He congratulated His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al-Jasser on his re-election as President of the Islamic Development Bank Group until 2031.

For his part, the representative of the Director-General of the United Nations Development Programme, Jacko Silvers, confirmed the continuation of the partnership with the Palestinian government.

He said, "We are working with the Palestinian government in various sectors to support the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and we will continue to implement developmental projects in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip to enhance citizens' ability to face challenges."

He added that restoration, energy, and infrastructure projects represent practical tools to support citizens' staying on their land and enhance sustainable development.

For her part, the Islamic Development Bank advisor in the West Bank and Jerusalem, Ikhlas Al-Ratrot, clarified that the new package of grants came in response to the priorities of the Palestinian government and the decisions of the administrative committee for the Al-Aqsa Fund for the year 2026.

She said, "The new grants are distributed across the sectors of local governance, roads, health, and restoration in Jerusalem, enhancing basic services and contributing to supporting the steadfastness of citizens."

She affirmed the continuation of the strategic partnership with the institutions of the State of Palestine, indicating that the Islamic Development Bank will remain a key partner in financing development and service projects across various governorates.