The Ministry of Women's Affairs, the United Nations Development Program, UN Women, and Norway are discussing the role of Palestinian women in leading recovery, reconstruction, and peacebuilding.

Khalili: The Palestinian woman is not only affected by the conflict... She is a partner in response, recovery, and peacebuilding.

Ramallah, August 24, 2026 – The Minister of Women's Affairs, Ms. Mona Al Khalili participated today in the roundtable organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women, and Norway, to discuss the role of Palestinian women in leading recovery, reconstruction, and peacebuilding efforts, with the participation of representatives from national and international institutions, civil society organizations, women's organizations, and development partners.

The representative of the United Nations Development Program emphasized the importance of benefiting from existing experiences and lessons on local and feminist leadership in Gaza, enhancing economic opportunities, and the role of women in supporting social cohesion. He stressed the need to move from general observations to setting clear priorities and directing funding and resources toward actual needs, leading to practical actions in the upcoming phase.

For her part, Al-Khalili emphasized that any path to recovery and reconstruction in Palestine must start from the reality of Palestinian women and their needs, considering them as essential partners in leading this path. She pointed out that the Israeli occupation and aggression have exacerbated the humanitarian, economic, social, and institutional challenges facing women, creating repercussions that require a long-term response.

Al Khalili said, "We cannot understand the reality of the Palestinian woman, nor can we design a fair response to her needs, without placing the Israeli occupation and aggression at the heart of this reality," emphasizing that reconstruction does not only mean rebuilding stones, but rather rebuilding the human being, the family, the community, and institutions, that’s when women must be at the heart of this process.

She pointed out that the Ministry of Women's Affairs, in its capacity as the chair of the National Committee for the Implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325, launched the third generation of the National Plan for the Implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda 2026–2028. The national plan focuses on prevention, protection, participation, relief, recovery, resilience, and accountability, thereby, it enhances the presence of women in decision-making positions related to recovery, reconstruction, prioritization, and resource management.

Al-Khalili emphasized the necessity for women's participation to go beyond symbolic representation to actual involvement in planning and decision-making, asserting that "the woman who bore the responsibility of the family and community during the crisis must be a partner in determining solutions," and that the transition from relief to recovery requires linking protection with economic and social empowerment and long-term investment in women, families, and communities.

She emphasized the importance of the integration of roles between the Palestinian government and its partners, clarifying that the government bears its responsibilities in national leadership, planning, policy-making, response coordination, institution building, and ensuring service delivery to women and the most vulnerable groups. Meanwhile, the responsibility of international partners is to support national priorities, provide resources and expertise, enhance capacities, and ensure that recovery and reconstruction programs respond to the needs and rights of women.

Al Khalili also affirmed that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without justice, accountability, and the protection of international law, pointing out that supporting Palestinian women and enhancing their participation and empowerment economically, socially, and politically represents an investment in community stability and peace opportunities. Therefore, emphasizing that "the Palestinian woman is not just a woman suffering from war; she is a woman leading life amidst war." And she is not just a beneficiary of recovery; she is a partner in its making. And not only affected by the conflict; she is a partner in building peace.

Kaitlin Chittenden, Acting Deputy Special Representative of UN Women in Palestine, emphasized at the conclusion of the roundtable the necessity of ensuring women's presence at all decision-making tables, not just as beneficiaries, but as leaders and active participants. She stressed that the voices of women and girls across Palestine, especially in the Gaza Strip, must be an essential part of shaping the humanitarian response and early recovery efforts, moving beyond mere consultation to involving them in leading the design, implementation, and governance of reconstruction efforts.

The discussions during the roundtable addressed the pivotal and essential role of women and women-led organizations in responding to humanitarian crises, recovery, and reconstruction, and the importance of ensuring the continuity of this role in the upcoming phases. This includes enhancing women's access to resources, sustainable financing, and economic opportunities, involving them in setting priorities, planning, decision-making, and governing recovery efforts, and leveraging the expertise of women's institutions in reaching communities and identifying women's needs. This ensures a more effective and context-appropriate response to the Palestinian reality, especially in Gaza Strip.