The Israeli military conducted a series of airstrikes across the Gaza Strip on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 Palestinians, according to local medics. The strikes, which have intensified over the past week, targeted multiple locations, including Gaza City and Nuseirat, one of the historic refugee camps in the region. Among the casualties were two women and two children in Nuseirat, highlighting the severe impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians.
As Israeli forces clashed with Hamas-led militants in various parts of Gaza, including the Zeitoun suburb and the eastern neighborhoods of Khan Younis and Rafah near the Egyptian border, health officials resumed a critical polio vaccination campaign for children in the enclave. The vaccination effort was launched following the discovery of a polio case in a one-year-old who suffered partial paralysis, marking the first known case of the disease in Gaza in 25 years.
The vaccination campaign, spearheaded by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), has so far reached approximately 160,000 children in southern Gaza, with the goal of vaccinating around 640,000 children under the age of 10. This public health initiative is being conducted amidst significant challenges as Gaza’s health infrastructure continues to deteriorate due to the ongoing conflict. The vaccination drive is being facilitated by temporary pauses in fighting agreed upon by Israeli and Hamas forces, although these pauses fall short of a full ceasefire.
Despite nearly 90% of a ceasefire agreement being reached, critical sticking points remain unresolved, including control over the Philadelphi corridor along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged both Israel and Hamas to bridge these gaps, but the prospect of a ceasefire remains uncertain as diplomatic efforts continue to falter.
The conflict, now in its eleventh month, was ignited on October 7 of the previous year when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of about 250 hostages. Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has led to the deaths of over 40,800 Palestinians and the displacement of nearly 1.9 million people, according to the Gaza health ministry and United Nations reports. The humanitarian crisis has sparked allegations of genocide against Israel at the World Court, charges that Israel denies.
The ongoing conflict has devastated Gaza’s healthcare system, with many hospitals out of operation. Juliette Touma, UNRWA’s Director of Communications, emphasized the urgency of the vaccination campaign, describing it as “very welcome progress.” However, she also reiterated the agency’s call for a permanent ceasefire to allow for sustained humanitarian relief and to address the broader needs of the displaced population.
The polio vaccination campaign is set to move to northern Gaza, which has borne the brunt of Israeli military operations. The World Health Organization has noted that a second round of vaccinations will be necessary four weeks after the initial doses to ensure full immunity among the children. As Gaza’s residents continue to navigate the dire circumstances of war, the resumption of polio vaccinations offers a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.
