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The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Israel’s has consented to implement restricted “humanitarian pauses” to facilitate crucial polio vaccination efforts in Gaza. According to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, these pauses are scheduled to start on September 1. However, they will only occur in specific locations and at designated times. The teams responsible for the vaccination campaign will require the next 48 hours to organize the necessary logistics to ensure the effective deployment of the vaccines.
In other developments, the their military has reported conducting airstrikes in the West Bank city of Jenin. The strikes targeted individuals engaged in confrontations with Israeli forces, though further specifics on the incidents were not provided. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) noted that the aerial assaults were a response to the ongoing clashes.
Earlier, the Jenin Battalion of the al-Quds Brigades, the military faction of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, claimed that its members were involved in intense fighting with Israel’s troops in Jenin. The battalion described the exchanges as “fierce clashes,” highlighting the escalating tensions in the region. The situation remains fluid, with both sides engaged in ongoing confrontations, contributing to the broader volatility in the area.
WHO announces pauses in Gaza fighting for polio vaccinations
On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) revealed a preliminary agreement for “area-specific humanitarian pauses” in Gaza, aimed at facilitating a polio vaccination drive. The UN plans to begin vaccinating approximately 640,000 children in Gaza starting Sunday. WHO’s senior regional official, Rik Peeperkorn, outlined that the initiative would include a three-day pause in central Gaza, with subsequent pauses in southern and northern Gaza. A possible fourth day might be added if necessary. The Israeli military, which has previously allowed temporary “tactical pauses” for humanitarian aid, and Hamas have yet to comment on this development.
On August 23, the WHO reported the first case of poliovirus paralysis in Gaza in 25 years, involving a baby named Abdul-Rahman Abu Al-Jidyan, who will turn 1 on Sunday. His mother, Nivin Abu Al-Jidyan, expressed deep concern over her son’s condition from a tent in central Gaza, lamenting the lack of care and attention he is receiving.
In other news, Israeli forces mistakenly targeted vehicles of the UN’s food agency on Tuesday, leading to a temporary halt in aid deliveries. The Israeli government attributed the incident to a “communication error.” U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, has called for Israel to take responsibility and prevent future attacks on UN personnel.
The United Nations Security Council convened to address the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza at the request of Britain and Switzerland. Meanwhile, a survey funded by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews revealed that many Israeli families displaced from near the Lebanese border are lacking school supplies, with 20% uncertain about their children’s school placements for the upcoming term.
In Yemen, Houthi rebels have agreed to grant access to the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which they attacked last week, causing a fire and an environmental risk. The Pentagon has reported that the vessel, now evacuated, may be leaking oil.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is advocating for a cease-fire and hostage release deal to avoid a potential “multi-front war.” Gallant argues that reaching an agreement could help de-escalate tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon and possibly influence Iran’s response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
In the West Bank, a second day of large-scale Israeli military operations resulted in the death of alleged terrorist Mohammed Jaber, also known as Abu Shujaa. Jaber, described as a commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s wing in Nur Shams, was reportedly involved in several attacks, including the murder of an Israeli civilian. The operation also resulted in the death of four other individuals who were reportedly hiding in a mosque, while an Israeli Border Police soldier sustained minor injuries. International officials have condemned the offensive, expressing concerns that it could extend the conflict beyond Gaza.
Amnesty International Condemns Israeli Actions as Apartheid
Amnesty International has issued a stern condemnation of Israel’s actions in the West Bank, characterizing them as an extension of an apartheid system. Erika Guevara Rosas, the senior director for research at Amnesty International, has highlighted what she describes as a disturbing escalation in the use of lethal force by Israeli authorities and settler groups. According to Guevara Rosas, there has been a significant increase in unlawful killings and attacks on Palestinians, including in East Jerusalem, since the recent outbreak of conflict. She also criticized the Israeli government for employing arbitrary detention to suppress Palestinian dissent.
Guevara Rosas argues that these actions are part of a broader strategy of collective punishment and forced displacement that aligns with what Amnesty International views as an apartheid system against Palestinians. This system, she asserts, involves the systematic destruction of crucial infrastructure and measures that disproportionately target Palestinian civilians.
Families of Hostages Demand Action at Gaza Border
On Thursday, families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza staged a dramatic protest near the Gaza border, seeking urgent action to secure the release of their loved ones. The protesters, who were positioned close to Kibbutz Nirim in southern Israel, carried photographs of the captives and donned shirts marked with red paint. Their goal was to draw attention to their plight and urge a resolution to the crisis.
The protest escalated as a few dozen demonstrators attempted to breach the border into Gaza, only to be intercepted by Israeli police. Authorities warned the protesters of the dangers they faced from potential armed militants in Gaza. Eyal Kalderon, whose cousin Ofer is among the hostages, expressed frustration over the failed attempt, asserting the urgency of bringing the hostages back to safety in Israel.
In a recent development, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid has publicly disputed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claims regarding prior intelligence on the Hamas-led attack of October 7. Lapid, who attended a security briefing six weeks before the attack, revealed that a general had warned about the growing threat from Iran-backed militants and vulnerabilities in Israeli security.
Lapid criticized Netanyahu for appearing disinterested in the warnings, suggesting that the prime minister had received and reviewed the intelligence but did not take appropriate action. Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party has denied these allegations, asserting that the claims made by Lapid are unfounded and misleading.
UN Court’s Stance on Israeli Settlements
The international community remains divided on various aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including the status of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. The United Nations has ruled that these settlements are illegal under international law. The West Bank, partially administered by the Palestinian Authority, has been occupied by the Israeli military since the Six-Day War of 1967, when Israel took control of the territory from Jordan.
Since then, Israel has expanded its settlements in the West Bank, which now accommodate nearly 500,000 Israelis. This expansion has been a point of contention and criticism, particularly as it impacts the approximately 3 million Palestinians living in the region. The ongoing debate over the legality and impact of these settlements continues to be a significant issue in the broader context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.