Israeli strikes across Gaza killed 42 people on Wednesday as the military intensified siege on north Gaza, forcing the World Health Organization (WHO) to pause the latest phase of its polio vaccination campaign, reports the Guardian.
During the bombarding on Wednesday 37 people died in North Gaza alone. Gaza’s health ministry said at least 650 people had been killed since the new offensive began there.
However, Israeli forces began the operation in the north about three weeks ago with the declared aim of preventing Hamas fighters from regrouping. The operation has intensified since the killing of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar a week ago, despite hopes from the US that his death could provide a fresh impetus for peace.
The WHO officials said that due to the “escalating violence and intense bombardments” in northern Gaza, the third phase of a vital polio vaccination campaign has been postponed. The vaccination campaign was launched last month after a baby was paralysed by the disease in Gaza for the first time in 25 years.
According to the agency, 119,279 children across northern Gaza were due to be vaccinated, but current conditions were “making it impossible for families to safely bring their children for vaccination, and health workers to operate.”
Israel’s military’s “humanitarian” unit, Cogat, which oversees aid and commercial shipments to Gaza, said the vaccination campaign in northern Gaza will begin in the coming days, “after a joint assessment and at the request” of the WHO and Unicef.
The Gaza Civil Emergency Service said three of its rescuers were wounded in northern Gaza in what it said was a “targeted strike”, that aimed to force them out of Jabalia, hours after the Israeli army ordered some of their staff to leave the camp.
Later it said, all its operations in northern Gaza were suspended after Israeli forces detained five staff members and bombed the only fire truck.
The UN Palestinian refugee agency said on Wednesday one of its staff members was killed when an Unrwa vehicle was hit in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Medics said the man’s brother was also killed.
The US has called on Israel to allow more humanitarian supplies into northern Gaza. Israel says aid has been delivered in scores of trucks as well as airdrops, but Gaza medics say the aid has not reached them.
Bd-Pratidin English/ Afsar Munna
