Israel continues raids on Khan Younis ‘safe zones’
Israeli forces targeted a tent belonging to displaced Palestinians in the suburb of Abasan, eastern Khan Younis, an area that had been designated by Israeli forces as a “safe zone”. At least six Palestinians were reported killed.
Israeli forces also targeted the western part of Khan Younis, a very busy area where at least four Palestinians were killed. There was also another air strike in the Hamad area that hit an apartment building.
Palestinians have nowhere to go, and Israeli forces continue their raids on areas designated as safe zones. Palestinians in Khan Younis do not know where to go and are relying on setting up their tents on agricultural lands and in deserted areas.
Multiple air strikes without any warning
Yet another Israeli aerial bombardment that started with a single air strike. Paramedics and locals rushed to help the victims. Within minutes, Israeli warplanes launched waves of missiles at this civilian area.
The tents here had displaced Palestinians sheltering. This area was crammed with women and children because the Israeli army had declared it a safe humanitarian zone.
Paramedics and civil defence teams – with basic tools – are doing everything they can to contain the fire that broke out after the air strikes. They are also searching for survivors or bodies under the rubble, despite the dangerous conditions.
WHO working on vaccine campaign to halt polio in Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) is working on a polio vaccination campaign for Gaza after the virus was detected there, officials say, but a ceasefire is necessary to enable its delivery.
“We need a ceasefire, even a temporary ceasefire to successfully undertake these campaigns. Otherwise, we risk the virus spreading further, including across borders,” said Hanan Balkhy, regional WHO director.
While vaccines necessary to immunise half a million children against the outbreak were available, delivery into the Palestinian territory and the kind of door-to-door, or tent-to-tent, delivery necessary in Gaza was difficult given restricted freedom of movement.
Balkhy also pointed out the risk of the development of antimicrobial resistance within Gaza, and the possibility of such strains spreading into other countries.
Hamid Jafari, a WHO polio specialist, said during a news conference that while no clinical cases have been found so far, polio was detected in sewage in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis governorates.
