Israel has agreed to implement a series of "humanitarian pauses" in the fighting in Gaza to facilitate a polio vaccination drive, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The initiative aims to vaccinate approximately 640,000 children across the Gaza Strip.

The vaccination campaign will start on Sunday and be conducted in three stages, covering central, southern, and northern Gaza. During each stage, there will be a three-day pause in fighting from 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM local time.

This decision follows the recent report of Gaza's first polio case in 25 years, which partially paralyzed a 10-month-old baby. To support the campaign, about 1.26 million doses of the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) are already in Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected soon. Over 2,000 health and community outreach workers have been trained to administer the vaccine.

Louise Wateridge, a UN spokeswoman in Gaza, emphasized the need for a ceasefire to ensure the vaccination campaign runs smoothly. She highlighted that continuing military operations could hinder the delivery of vaccinations.

The WHO aims to achieve a 90% vaccination coverage in Gaza to halt the virus's transmission. If necessary, an additional fourth day of vaccination and a humanitarian pause may be arranged to reach this goal.

Poliovirus is highly contagious and can cause severe health issues, including paralysis and death, particularly in children under five. While immunization rates in Gaza and the West Bank were high before the conflict, coverage has recently dropped from 99% in 2022 to 89%.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified that the pauses are not a ceasefire but a temporary measure to facilitate the vaccination effort. Meanwhile, Hamas official Basem Naim expressed readiness to cooperate with international organizations to ensure the success of the campaign.

The vaccination plan has been welcomed by international representatives, with calls for the pauses to be sufficient to ensure complete vaccination coverage. There are also appeals to include those still held hostage in the vaccination efforts, as Israel continues its military campaign in Gaza in response to a major attack by Hamas on October 7.

Israel Launches Major Military Operation in West Bank, Killing At Least 10 Hamas Militants

Israeli Military Operation Targets Jenin and Surrounding Areas, Killing 9 Palestinians

Israel-Hamas Conflict Intensifies as Displaced Palestinians Struggle for Safety