Despite ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza, a large-scale polio vaccination campaign has continued into its third day in the Gaza Strip. Israel has agreed to limited pauses in fighting to facilitate the campaign, according to the World Health Organization, although reports of continued airstrikes on Gaza persist.
The vaccination program, aiming to reach 640,000 Palestinian children, is set to continue through September 9, lasting eight hours a day. This initiative comes as Gaza faces a new threat of polio, with the territory’s healthcare system decimated by Israel’s bombing campaign. The destruction of 31 out of 36 hospitals in Gaza has left the population vulnerable to various diseases, including polio.
The suspension of some UK arms export licenses to Israel has been met with criticism and calls for stronger actions to stop the daily atrocities in Gaza. The UK’s Chief Rabbi and President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews have expressed disappointment in the decision, while various organizations, including Oxfam GB, have called for a halt to all arms licenses to Israel.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with thousands of Palestinians killed and injured in Israeli strikes since October 7. As the conflict escalates and international pressure mounts, efforts to administer critical polio vaccinations to children in the midst of the ongoing violence continue, highlighting the urgent need for humanitarian aid and a cessation of hostilities in the region.
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