Rabat – Hamas has described today’s Israeli vague statement on allowing Polio vaccinations as “misleading manipulation.”
Israeli Prime Minister and ICJ fugitive Benjamin Netanyahu today announced a “partial suspension” of Israeli violence in Gaza, while denying an Israeli report that the humanitarian pause would be a general truce.
Netanyahu’s statement said the Israelis would allow the “designation of specific places” to allow for Polio vaccinations after “support from relevant professionals” and Israel’s security cabinet.
The statement came as a surprise to many in Israel, where the country’s far-right government and its many supporters oppose any aid or lull in violence for the suffering people of Gaza.
On Wednesday evening in Qatar, Hamas Political Bureau member Ezzat al-Resheq called Netanyahu’s statement a “misleading manipulation aimed at continuing the war of genocide and systematic killing of the Palestinian people.” He emphasized that Netanyahu’s statement was far from the cease-fire proposals insisted upon by the United Nations (UN) and aid organizations, and meant the “slow death of the children of Gaza.”
Al-Resheq sees Netanyahu’s statement as a way to evade UN moves to impose a proper cease-fire, which would “deny thousands of children the vaccination.”
He called on the UN and the international community to instead put pressure on Netanyahu to “accept a comprehensive humanitarian truce in Gaza, for giving polio vaccinations for all children in the Strip, in line with the United Nations.
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu’s vague statement is the result of a request last week by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Israel.
Netanyahu’s vague statement is likely to further frustrate efforts to vaccinate children in Gaza against Polio, a disease that will certainly spread to Israel as well if left uncontained.
Preparations by international aid agencies have ensured that 25,000 vaccine vials, enough for 1 million doses, have arrived in the area. These organizations intend to commence vaccinations this Saturday, hoping for Israel to seize its relentless bombing of the densely-populated area while the much-needed vaccination drives take place.
On August 22, the first case of Polio in 25 years was detected in Gaza, prompting urgent calls for a vaccination drive. AN estimated 50,000 children have been born since the assault on Gaza, and none of these vulnerable children have been vaccinated against the horrific disease.
The ongoing Israeli campaign of violence in Gaza has frustrated efforts to provide much-needed help for infants in Gaza. The WHO has urged Israel to accept a cease-fire to stop the outbreak.
