Gaza Conflict Intensifies as Polio Vaccination Campaign Progresses
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 27 Palestinians amid ongoing battles. UNRWA vaccinates 355,000 children against polio as diplomatic efforts for ceasefire continue. Humanitarian crisis deepens with widespread displacement.
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at least 27 Palestinians lost their lives in Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip on September 6, 2024. Medical personnel reported casualties in various locations, including Nuseirat refugee camp and Gaza City.
Concurrently, Israeli forces engaged in combat with Hamas-led militants in several areas, including the Zeitoun suburb of Gaza City, eastern Khan Younis, and Rafah near the Egyptian border. Residents reported the presence of tanks and the destruction of houses by Israeli forces.
The conflict, now in its eleventh month, has seen multiple unsuccessful diplomatic attempts to broker a ceasefire. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States continue their efforts, with the U.S. preparing a new proposal to address remaining differences. However, significant obstacles persist, particularly regarding the Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza's southern border with Egypt.
Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, emphasized the need for both Israel and Hamas to agree on unresolved issues to achieve a ceasefire. He noted that while approximately 90% of the deal has been agreed upon, critical gaps remain.
Amidst the ongoing hostilities, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has made significant progress in its polio vaccination campaign. The agency reported vaccinating nearly 355,000 children against polio in central and southern Gaza since September 1, 2024. This initiative follows the discovery of the first polio case in Gaza in 25 years, highlighting the deterioration of the enclave's health system due to the conflict.
Juliette Touma, UNRWA's Director of Communications, stated:
The vaccination campaign is set to expand to northern Gaza, aiming to reach approximately 640,000 children under 10 years old. While the temporary pauses in fighting have facilitated this effort, UNRWA continues to call for a comprehensive ceasefire.
The current crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths and the taking of about 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent military response in Gaza has led to over 40,800 Palestinian fatalities, according to local health authorities. The conflict has displaced nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, causing a severe humanitarian crisis.
The United Nations reports that approximately 1.9 million people, or 90% of Gaza's population, are internally displaced, with many having been forced to relocate multiple times. This situation underscores the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict and comprehensive humanitarian assistance.
