Gaza 'Polio Pauses' Likely in Coming Days

story

Aug 29, 2024

Above: A truck transporting aid from the Emirati aid ship in Al-Arish ports on July 29, 2024 in Arish, Egypt. Image copyright: Ali Moustafa/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Imagesstory last updated Aug 30

The Facts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that parts of Gaza may see a temporary truce so that aid agencies can undertake a polio vaccination campaign but denied reports that a general truce would take place.
The UN wants to vaccinate an estimated 640K children in Gaza, as the World Health Organization (WHO) announced last week that at least one baby has been paralyzed due to the disease. The UN hopes to begin the vaccination campaign on Sept. 1.

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Humanitarian pauses will be necessary to ensure that Gaza's children are protected from polio. Both sides need to respect a temporary truce so that health workers can administer vaccines effectively. Israel has worked with the US and humanitarian agencies to help make this process smoother.

New York Times

Pro-Israel narrative

Though Israel is committed to its war goals and the release of all hostages, a polio outbreak in Gaza would be a disaster for both Palestinians and Israelis. Israel has not accepted a cease-fire or a temporary truce that applies to all of Gaza, as the agreement stipulates that specific areas will see a cessation of hostilities.

Israel Hayom

Pro-Palestine narrative

The US has consistently failed to address Israel's intransigence regarding the situation in Gaza. Allowing for a vaccination campaign is the bare minimum in terms of reducing the suffering of Palestinians who are still facing Israel's genocidal war. Indeed, it is still unclear if this vaccination campaign will even be successful.