Middle East crisis live: Iranian military chief warns Israel of ‘bitter consequences’ over weekend’s airstrikes
GuardianOct 22
Polio Vaccination Campaign in Northern Gaza to Resume
Above: A Palestinian child receives a polio vaccination at a UNRWA clinic as part of the second phase of the polio vaccination campaign for children under 10 years old in the central governorate in Deir al-Balah, Gaza on Oct. 16, 2024. Image copyright: Moiz Salhi/Contributor/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Israel confirmed on Friday that the World Health Organization's (WHO) drive to vaccinate children in Gaza for polio will resume in northern Gaza on Saturday after it was paused due to Israeli bombing and military operations.
The final phase of the campaign had aimed to reach an estimated 119K children under 10 years old in northern Gaza. UNICEF and the WHO said achieving this target is now unlikely due to "access constraints."
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Though the situation in the region continues to escalate, the US has stood firm in its role as a mediator. Israel has every right to respond to the daily terror attacks it has seen since Oct. 7. However, it is in no one's interest for tensions to explode into a wider regional war. The US will continue to work toward regional stability.
Pro-Israel narrative
Hamas continues to use Gaza's civilian population as human shields as it increasingly converts schools and hospitals into command and control centers. Indeed, Hamas is solely to blame for the destruction of Gaza and its impact on the civilian population, as it started this terrible war with the massacres of Oct. 7. Israel will continue to pacify the group and confront its regional enemies.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's true goal in northern Gaza is to starve and exterminate the civilian population so that the region is never inhabited by Palestinians again, paving the way for Israeli settlers. Israeli politicians and military officials have been quite clear about the country's genocidal goals, yet the media continues to ignore their horrifying ambitions. This is a campaign of mass extermination that has received the full backing of the US.
Narrative D
Hezbollah and Lebanon have experienced immense suffering for supporting Palestine against Israel's genocidal actions, yet the group will continue its noble fight. Hezbollah is ready and able to defend Lebanon from Israeli aggression and its attacks will end when Israel withdraws from Gaza.