Gaza Children Receive Polio Vaccine Amid Ongoing Israel-Hamas Hospital Strike

GAZA – Large groups of Palestinians assembled at medical centers in southern Gaza on Thursday, seeking vaccinations against polio for their children. This marked the second phase of a campaign that has thus far immunized 187,000 youngsters.

The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency, UNRWA, reported that the vaccination initiative was progressing successfully, although the situation remained complex due to ongoing conflict. The campaign commenced against the backdrop of limited pauses in hostilities between Hamas and Israel.

However, the war unfolded elsewhere in Gaza, with health authorities documenting casualties from Israeli airstrikes, including one on a hospital situated in central Gaza.

While the vaccination efforts advanced, diplomatic talks aimed at establishing a permanent ceasefire, securing the release of hostages held in Gaza, and facilitating the return of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel have faced significant challenges.

On Thursday, vaccination activities began in Rafah and Khan Younis, regions heavily impacted by the ongoing conflict and accommodating tens of thousands of individuals displaced from other areas. One displaced resident, Ikram Nasser, stood in line with her son to receive the vaccine and expressed that the threat of polio had only intensified the prevailing fears surrounding their daily existence.

“We live in fear, from the bombings, from the terror, from the destruction, from the injuries. Now, we also fear diseases that have spread, such as skin infections, due to unsanitary conditions and overcrowding,” she shared.

UNRWA noted that the vaccination campaign had shifted focus to southern locations, primarily conducting operations in Khan Younis. They emphasized that these temporary pauses in hostilities must be observed to protect families and humanitarian workers on the ground.

The initiative aims to vaccinate 640,000 children across Gaza following a distressing report of a one-year-old baby who suffered partial paralysis from polio—this marked the first documented case of the disease in the region in 25 years.

As the health system in Gaza faces collapse, and many hospitals have been rendered non-operational due to the conflict, the urgency of the vaccination effort has increased. Footage released by the Gaza health ministry depicted significant crowds arriving at clinics in Khan Younis for their vaccinations.

Osama Brika, a resident of Gaza, accompanied his nephew to the medical facility and conveyed a crucial message to the international community. “Just as you provided us with vaccines to keep our children safe, you must also provide a ceasefire to end this war, as it is a true catastrophe for us,” he said.

Despite reports of progress in rolling out the vaccine, UNRWA stressed the necessity for a lasting ceasefire to alleviate the humanitarian crisis caused by the protracted conflict.

Meanwhile, the situation remains dire, as Israeli forces continue their operations throughout the Palestinian enclave, engaging with fighters from Hamas and the Islamic Jihad militant group.

On Thursday, Israeli airstrikes resulted in the deaths of five Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah. The victims were reportedly sheltered in a tent encampment within the hospital grounds.

The Israeli military claimed the airstrike targeted a command center operated by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, used to strategize and orchestrate assaults against Israeli forces.

Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with U.S. representatives working on a new proposal for a ceasefire alongside potential plans for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the coming days. This proposal is expected to address the significant obstacles that have stalled discussions mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that the conflict would only conclude with the defeat of Hamas, while Hamas’s conditions for any resolution include the withdrawal of all Israeli troops from Gaza.

The current hostilities were ignited by a major attack from Hamas on October 7, during which their militants killed 1,200 individuals and seized over 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Since then, the Gaza health ministry reports that casualties in the enclave have surpassed 40,800.

Source: USA TODAY