The UN World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that brief pauses in the ongoing conflict in Gaza will be implemented to facilitate polio vaccinations for hundreds of thousands of children. This comes after a baby in Gaza was diagnosed with the first confirmed case of polio in 25 years.
These “humanitarian pauses” will last three days in different parts of Gaza, starting on Sunday in central Gaza, according to Rik Peeperkorn, WHO representative in the Palestinian territories.
Following the central Gaza campaign, similar pauses will occur in southern and northern Gaza. Peeperkorn mentioned that additional days might be necessary to complete the vaccination effort.
The goal is to vaccinate 640,000 children under the age of 10, and the campaign is being coordinated with Israeli authorities. Peeperkorn acknowledged that while this approach may not be ideal, it is a practical solution under the circumstances.
Later, Peeperkorn emphasized that the campaign “will happen and should happen because we have an agreement.”
It’s important to note that these humanitarian pauses are not a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as mediators like the US, Egypt, and Qatar have been advocating.
An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that there is expected to be a tactical pause to allow for the vaccinations, though the plan has yet to be finalized. The Israeli army has previously announced similar limited pauses to allow for international humanitarian operations.
