Vaccine pauses in Gaza’s polio crisis aren’t political—they're vital for public health.
That amounts to about a quarter of the total population targeted in the campaign to stop the spread of the disease, which can cause paralysis and even death in young children.
The PMO stressed that Israel is committed to preventing an outbreak of the disease in the Gaza strip, as well as in the entire region.
A recent detection of type 2 polio in a Gaza infant marks the first case in 25 years, sparking concern over a potential outbreak.
The operation was conducted in conjunction with COGAT and under the political echelon's directives.
A highly abridged version of the daily Dust & Stars.
In addition to vaccinating the civilian population in Gaza, in late July, the IDF began a broad vaccination operation for all the regular and reserve soldiers in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry declared a polio epidemic in the Palestinian enclave last month, blaming Israel's ongoing military offensive.
"The detection of polio in Gaza is another reminder of the dire conditions the population is facing," Tedros wrote on X.
According to the WHO, polio is now endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but more than 30 countries are still listed as subject to outbreaks, including Gaza's neighbors Egypt and Israel.
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