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Gaza Municipality Discusses with the Advisory Committee Ways to Support the Policy of Consultation and Community Participation
Addressing the Financial Crisis, Municipal Services, and Enhancing Community Support

Municipal Media

Gaza Municipality held a meeting with the Advisory Committee to discuss ways to support the policy of consultation and community participation, strengthen community involvement in decision-making, and review the municipality’s efforts to provide essential services. The meeting also addressed issues related to encroachments on public property by some citizens, the severe financial crisis facing the municipality, the impact of winter depressions, and mechanisms to enhance cooperation in effectively conveying the municipality’s message to the community.

The meeting took place at the Municipal Council Office at Gaza Municipality’s headquarters in Palestine Square and was attended by Dr. Yahya Al-Sarraj, Mayor of Gaza; Tamer Al-Reis, Deputy Mayor; Mustafa Qazaat, Municipal Council Member; Amjad Al-Shawa, Head of the NGO Network; Husni Mahna, Committee Coordinator and Media Spokesperson; in addition to members of the Advisory Committee and the Municipal Youth Council.

Supporting Consultation

The Mayor of Gaza emphasized the importance of the Advisory Committee in supporting consultation and strengthening community participation, particularly in light of the difficult conditions, the ongoing financial crisis, and the tragic situation resulting from the genocidal war.
He briefed participants on the municipality’s efforts to continue delivering services despite severe financial constraints, as well as on key issues related to municipal services, especially road clearance and wastewater management.

Amjad Al-Shawa highlighted the displacement of tens of thousands of residents from the eastern neighborhoods of the city to western areas due to the occupation’s control of high ground in Shuja’iyya, Al-Zaytoun, and Al-Tuffah. He noted the negative impact of this displacement on the municipality and the resulting pressure on services, stressing the importance of media advocacy in urging the international community to intervene and address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, as well as the importance of public support for the municipality’s efforts.

Service Reality

The Deputy Mayor outlined the current state of municipal services, noting that available water supplies now amount to only 35% of pre-war levels, in addition to the accumulation of approximately 350,000 tons of solid waste in the heart of the city and the extensive damage to municipal facilities. He also referred to the municipality’s efforts to address the water crisis by providing fuel to operate approximately 1,250 groundwater wells.

Municipal Council Member Mustafa Qazaat spoke about the municipality’s efforts to cope with winter storms despite severe constraints, including shortages of fuel, machinery, and widespread infrastructure destruction. He affirmed that municipal teams are working tirelessly around the clock to mitigate the impact of the crisis, although limited resources continue to exacerbate the situation.

Role of the Media

The Media Spokesperson stressed the importance of the media in conveying the municipality’s message, strengthening community advocacy, enhancing neighborhood-level communication, and developing a data-driven media narrative. He also highlighted the importance of external media support for Gaza Municipality’s communication efforts.

Eng. Sali Abu Shaaban, Chair of the Municipal Youth Council, presented an overview of the Council, its formation process, and its role. She explained that the Council consists of 13 young men and women elected from a General Assembly of 223 members, with 144 participants taking part in a transparent and fair electoral process conducted in the presence of municipal representatives. Sub-committees were subsequently formed to strengthen the Council’s role and distribute responsibilities among its members.

Financial Situation

The meeting reviewed the municipality’s critical financial situation, with total debts amounting to approximately 226 million NIS, distributed as follows:
107 million NIS owed to the Pension Authority, around 66.3 million NIS in outstanding salaries for municipal employees, and 13 million NIS in payment orders that the municipality has been unable to disburse.
At the same time, the municipality has receivables from approximately 120,000 subscribers, with an average debt of 10,000 NIS per account.

Participants discussed ways to enhance communication between the municipality and the local community, support service delivery efforts, address the financial crisis, and support the municipality’s work in organizing and reopening streets, along with other service-related issues.

It was agreed to establish several sub-committees within the Council to strengthen its role, namely: the Engineering Committee, the Media and Advocacy Committee, the Cultural Committee, and the Public Services Committee.

Recommendations

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants recommended preparing fact sheets for each municipal sector and engaging with donors and relevant institutions, highlighting the challenges and problems facing the municipality through various media platforms and social networks. They also called for an urgent and dedicated session with economic institutions to coordinate efforts to mitigate the financial crisis and for strengthening the media narrative regarding the municipality’s financial situation and its inability to pay staff salaries.