Dr. Mohammad Awad, secretary-general of the Council of Ministers at the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, stated that the promised Arab and international aid donations, allocated for rebuilding the Gaza Strip, never made it to the coastal region.Awad issued a statement revealing that the government planned a number of development projects in an effort to elevate the suffering of the residents in the devastated region, and added that Israel’s siege hindered the projects.

He further stated that the government is faithful and committed to the wellbeing of the people, and tries to provide them with the basic needs such as salaries, extending relief work, periodic assistance for needy families, and countering monopoly,

Awad further stated that the call for municipal elections made by the Ramallah government while internal divisions are still ongoing will lead to results that are not credible, and described the called as “politically motivated”.