Is Israel Capable of a Humanitarian Pause?
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By: Kingston N. Howell
As the bombs continue to rain down on Gaza, a glimmer of hope emerges—albeit a fragile one. Amid the devastation, where access to the basics of life like clean water, food, and healthcare has become a daily struggle, a critical pause in hostilities is being brokered, not for political gain, but for the children. Israel has agreed to a series of temporary cessations in fighting to allow the vaccination of young children in Gaza against polio—a disease that had long been eradicated in much of the world but has found a tragic foothold in this besieged territory.
Starting September 1, these “polio pauses” will unroll in phases, beginning in central Gaza and moving southward and northward. Each pause, lasting for three days, is meant to provide a brief window where the relentless violence stops, if only for a few hours, so that vaccines—life-saving in their simplicity—can be delivered to the most vulnerable. This initiative, born out of negotiations involving the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the reluctant cooperation of Israeli officials, represents more than just a health intervention. It’s a testament to the resilience of a people who, even in the face of unimaginable hardship, continue to fight for their future..
Rik Peeperkorn, the WHO’s representative for the West Bank and Gaza, spoke to the press from a video link, emphasizing that the goal is to reach more than 640,000 children under the age of ten. But as noble as this goal is, the obstacles are immense. The past year of relentless bombardment has reduced Gaza’s once near-universal polio vaccine coverage to just over 80%. This is not enough to stop the virus from spreading in an environment where every aspect of life is already under siege. It’s clear that this campaign is urgent—both to protect the children of Gaza and to prevent the virus from spreading beyond the enclave. But with each phase of the vaccination drive limited to seven hours, many wonder if this will be enough. The WHO has cautioned that three days might not suffice and has left the door open for extending the campaign if necessary.
Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, has expressed its willingness to cooperate, understanding the stakes involved. This cooperation, however, comes against a backdrop of a humanitarian disaster, with the enclave’s infrastructure in shambles, its people displaced, and a health system on the verge of collapse.
Yet, in this desperate situation, the people of Gaza continue to hold on to hope. Despite the destruction, despite the deprivation, despite the world’s indifference, there is a determination to save the next generation from a disease that should never have returned.
