Translated by Sabrin Qadah 

Washington – the member of the Central Committee of the Fatah movement, the President of the Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction "Pecdar" D. Mohammed Shtayyeh called to mobilize international support to promote reconciliation and provide assistance in the implementation of its requirements. He said during several meetings with Western officials on the sidelines of his participation in the annual meetings of the World Bank in Washington, that the implementation of the reconciliation agreement began in practice.

He said that the Palestinian government will immediately assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip to begin resolving the humanitarian deepening crisis of the Gaza Strip, and it needs international support.

Shtayyeh called on donors who pledged funds to rebuild Gaza to abide by these pledges to complete the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which will be supported by reconciliation and the government will assume its responsibilities in the sector.

Shtayyeh briefed officials on the economic situation in Palestine, especially on the labor market, which he described as alarming. He pointed out that the unemployment rate rose to 29 percent until June, and the percentage increases in the Gaza Strip by up to 44 percent as a result of the Israeli siege imposed on the sector 11 years ago, which undermined the ingredients of production.

He added that unemployment rates among young people are also worrying, especially among university graduates, whose unemployment rate is 53%.

In the same context, Shtayyeh called on some donor countries to contribute to programs to create jobs for young people and finance their small income-generating projects.