In a significant development amid the ongoing conflict, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a series of three-day humanitarian pauses in different parts of Gaza to facilitate a critical polio vaccination campaign. The campaign, set to begin on September 1, aims to vaccinate approximately 640,000 children under 10 years old against the poliovirus.According to Rik Peeperkorn, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative for the Palestinian territories, the pauses will occur in three stages: first in central Gaza, then in the southern region, and finally in the northern area. Each pause will last for three days, with daily ceasefires from 6 AM to 3 PM local time. This agreement allows for the possibility of extending each pause by one day if necessary to complete the vaccinations.The decision comes in response to the confirmation of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years, detected in a 10-month-old child on August 23. The WHO emphasizes the importance of vaccinating at least 90% of children to effectively prevent the spread of the virus. Peeperkorn stated, ‘It will happen and should happen because we have an agreement,’ while acknowledging that this approach, while not ideal, is a ‘workable way forward’.Both Israeli and Palestinian officials have confirmed their cooperation with the campaign. The Israeli military’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) stated that the vaccination effort will be coordinated with the Israeli army. Hamas leader Bassem Naim expressed readiness to cooperate, stating, ‘We are ready to cooperate with international organizations to ensure this campaign, which serves and protects over 650,000 Palestinian children in the Gaza Strip’.While this agreement represents a positive step towards addressing the immediate health crisis, it falls short of the seven-day humanitarian ceasefire initially called for by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The limited nature of these pauses underscores the ongoing challenges in delivering comprehensive humanitarian aid to Gaza amidst the conflict.
Key points
- Israel and Hamas have agreed to three-day humanitarian pauses in different parts of Gaza for a polio vaccination campaign.
- The campaign aims to vaccinate approximately 640,000 children under 10 years old, starting September 1.
- Daily ceasefires will occur from 6 AM to 3 PM local time in each region.
- The agreement comes after the first polio case in 25 years was detected in Gaza on August 23.
Contradictions👾While most sources agree on the details of the humanitarian pauses, there is a discrepancy in the reported number of children to be vaccinated, with some sources citing 640,000 and others mentioning 650,000.
