Fuel Ignites People's Anger: A Surge in Fuel Prices Amid a Crumbling Economic Situation

Ramallah - Afaq News - The Palestinian Ministry of Finance's General Petroleum Authority announced an increase in fuel and gas prices for October 2026, a rise that has sparked widespread discontent and criticism amid the difficult economic conditions faced by citizens in the West Bank.

According to the new pricing, starting today, Thursday, October 1, the price of a liter of diesel has risen to 8.99 shekels, while the price of a liter of 95 octane gasoline is approximately 8.17 shekels. The price of a 12-kilogram domestic gas cylinder has been set at 90 shekels, and a 48-kilogram cylinder at 360 shekels.

However, the General Petroleum Authority stated that the government has decided to provide an additional support of 10 million shekels to mitigate the rise in fuel prices during this month and to help alleviate the living burdens on citizens, confirming that prices will decrease as soon as there are any changes in the factors that led to their increase.

Transport Union

In this context, the Transport Workers Union announced an agreement with the Ministry of Transport and Communications not to raise transportation fares in general, in exchange for measures to alleviate the burdens on drivers, including adding an eighth seat to service vehicles, reducing tax burdens, and pursuing private vehicles that operate for hire.

The union clarified that any increase in transportation fares will be limited to certain routes that have been more severely affected by barriers, closures, and assaults, and will be proportional to the extent of the damage and obstacles faced by those routes.

The new increase comes at a time when the Palestinian economy in the West Bank is suffering from a severe financial and living crisis, which has reflected on the Palestinian Authority's ability to pay its employees' full salaries. The Ministry of Finance announced in September the disbursement of 50% of the salary for the month of June, with a minimum of 2000 shekels, amid the ongoing financial crisis and Israel withholding part of the Palestinian clearance funds.