Understanding of the current scenario - Military personnel from Israel discover multiple deceased individuals in Gaza prior to the initiation of vaccinations.
A few hours prior to the polio vaccination initiative in Gaza, a disturbance arose in Israel due to the discovery of numerous corpses in the conflict zone. Initial speculations suggested these could be Israeli hostages, sparking intense protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "Tomorrow, the nation trembles. The public is urged to prepare," asserted representatives of the captive Israelis in Gaza, as reported by Israeli media.
Simultaneously, the polio immunization for hundreds of thousand kids was scheduled to commence in Gaza at dawn. This necessitated temporary, location-specific truces in the blockaded coastal region for the purpose of vaccination.
Intense Criticism of Netanyahu
Israel's military advised against spreading rumors in light of the discovered bodies, stating, "Currently, our soldiers are operating in the area and working on body recovery and identification, a procedure that will take several hours." This message was shared on social media by the military on Saturday evening.
Opposition leader Jair Lapid accused Netanyahu of focusing on insignificant matters while "our children languish in captivity," as reported by The Times of Israel. Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other cities, calling for the release of the hostages held by Islamic Hamas.
WHO Insists on Safe Polio Immunization
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the polio immunization campaign would persist for three to more days in the southern region of the besieged coastal strip before migrating north to Gaza. Clinics, doctors' offices, and mobile teams were expected to immunize hundreds of thousand children against the virus within a few days, aiming to reach over 90% of children below 10 years.
The first vaccine doses were administered at a press conference of the Hamas-controlled health authority in Gaza on Saturday. WHO appealed for the safe execution of the planned mass vaccination, emphasizing that all conflict parties should ensure this.
Netanyahu's Office: Ceasefires are not General Ceasefires
Reports of a general ceasefire for vaccination conduction were deemed incorrect by Netanyahu's office in the evening. "Israel will allow a humanitarian corridor for the vaccination team to pass. Moreover, designated security areas will be established for vaccination during specific hours," the statement read.
First Polio Case in Gaza in 25 Years
The case of polio paralysis in Gaza, the first in 25 years, was reported recently. Post Hamas terrorist attack on the Israeli border region on October 7 last year, many babies and children in Gaza failed to receive vaccinations. Poor hygiene conditions, overcrowded living spaces, and limited access to clean water in the devastated coastal strip might contribute to a rapid spread of the infectious disease, according to WHO.
The forum of Israeli hostages' relatives requested WHO to vaccinate the abducted children in Gaza, as well.
Mediation Talks Stalled
Over 2,000 aid workers have been trained for polio vaccinations in the war-torn region. Nearly 1.26 million polio vaccine doses have been dispatched to the region, with an additional 400,000 expected soon. Approximately 640,000 children below 10 years are to be vaccinated with two doses administered four weeks apart.
However, attempts for a comprehensive ceasefire in the Palestinian territory are currently at a standstill. Expectations of a breakthrough in mediation talks led by the USA, Egypt, and Qatar in Cairo between Israel and Hamas have not yet materialized.
Border Area Dispute
The main point of contention is the duration of Israeli soldiers' presence in Gaza, particularly in the Philadelphi Corridor along the border with Egypt. Following a security cabinet decision, Israel plans to maintain control over the Gaza-Egypt border. Critics, including Defense Minister Joav Galant, fear that this move might impede the hostages' release, as Hamas refuses to accept Israeli control of the Philadelphi Corridor.
"Netanyahu and his cabinet allies are deliberately undermining the ceasefire agreement for the Philadelphi Corridor, thereby intentionally sentencing the hostages to death," declared a statement issued by the hostages' relatives. The mother of one of the hostages labeled Netanyahu's insistence on maintaining control of the corridor as a "crime against the people, against the state of Israel, and against Zionism." "Netanyahu is not a security guard but a harbinger of death," she added.
Since the war's commencement eleven months ago, the death toll in the coastal strip has risen to over 40,600, as per Gaza authorities. The numbers do not distinguish between combatants and civilians and are difficult to verify.
Despite the ongoing conflict, the importance of children's health was highlighted as the polio immunization for thousands of children in Gaza was scheduled to start. Opposition leader Jair Lapid criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for focusing on other matters while children languished in captivity.
