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Covid-19: Why are Palestinians not getting vaccines? Covid-19: Why are Palestinians behind in vaccine efforts?
(12 days later)
Covid-19: Vaccine divides in the Middle EastCovid-19: Vaccine divides in the Middle East
Israel has the highest rate of Covid-19 vaccination per person in the world while the Palestinian territories appear to be significantly behind. Israel has the highest rate of Covid-19 vaccination per person in the world while the Palestinian territories have only just started vaccinating.
So what is the situation in the West Bank and Gaza - regarded as occupied territories by the international community?So what is the situation in the West Bank and Gaza - regarded as occupied territories by the international community?
How many Israelis and Palestinians have been vaccinated?How many Israelis and Palestinians have been vaccinated?
More than a quarter of Israel's population of nine million have received at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine since 19 December, its health ministry says. Israel leads the world in terms of the number of doses per head of population, with more than 74 doses given for every 100 people.
The programme started with elderly people and others considered at high risk, but people aged 40 and over can also now get the jab. It has also started to transfer some doses to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, so that vaccinations can begin for frontline health workers.
Israel leads the world in terms of the number of doses per head of population. In occupied East Jerusalem, all Palestinians are entitled to be vaccinated against Covid by Israel, as are medics working at the six Palestinian hospitals there - many of whom come from other parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
It's also said it will transfer 5,000 doses to the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza so that vaccinations can begin for frontline health workers there.
In occupied East Jerusalem, all Palestinians are entitled to be vaccinated against Covid by Israel, as are medics working at the six Palestinian hospitals there - many of whom come from other parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel started rolling out its vaccination programme in DecemberIsrael started rolling out its vaccination programme in December
That's because Palestinians in East Jerusalem have Israeli residency status - so those living there pay Israeli taxes and have access to Israeli health insurance.That's because Palestinians in East Jerusalem have Israeli residency status - so those living there pay Israeli taxes and have access to Israeli health insurance.
According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data, there have been more than 178,900 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than than 2,000 deaths among Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. According to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data, there have been more than 189,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than than 2,100 deaths among Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.
The case fatality rate for these areas is 1.1% - that's the proportion of reported infections which result in a person dying. The case fatality rate for these areas is 1.1% - that's the proportion of reported infections which result in a person dying. In Israel, it is 0.7%, according to WHO data.
In Israel, it is 0.7%, according to WHO data.
When will Palestinians get vaccines?When will Palestinians get vaccines?
The Palestinian Ministry of Health - which operates in the West Bank - said in a statement that they are doing deals with four companies that will provide enough vaccine for 70% of its people, although it's not clear when they will arrive. The Palestinian Ministry of Health - which operates in the West Bank - said in a statement that they have deals with four companies that will provide enough vaccines for 70% of its people.
A delivery of 5,000 Russian-made vaccine doses is also expected, in addition to the 5,000 doses which Israel says it is giving to the Palestinians. A delivery of 10,000 doses of Russian-made vaccine has now arrived. Israel says it is giving 5,000 doses to the Palestinians - two thousand of these have been delivered to the West Bank so far.
Two thousand Israeli vaccine doses have now been delivered to the West Bank, according to reports. The population of the West Bank and Gaza is now around five million, according to the latest UN estimates.
The Palestinians have also said they expect to vaccinate about 20% of the population with doses supplied under the Covax scheme, backed by the WHO. The Palestinians have also said they expect to vaccinate about 20% of the population with doses supplied under the international Covax scheme, backed by the WHO.
The global plan to share Covid-19 vaccines fairlyThe global plan to share Covid-19 vaccines fairly
This is an international effort to get vaccines to poorer countries, who may not be able to secure enough supplies on their own. This is a global effort to get vaccines to poorer countries, who may not be able to secure enough supplies on their own. These will be given free or at reduced prices.
Covax has said that the West Bank and Gaza would get an initial 240,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, and 37,440 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with some of this expected to arrive in late February.Covax has said that the West Bank and Gaza would get an initial 240,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, and 37,440 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with some of this expected to arrive in late February.
However, getting vaccines to Gaza is faced with the logistical challenges of the restrictions imposed on the area, which has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt since the militant Islamist movement Hamas took charge there in 2007.However, getting vaccines to Gaza is faced with the logistical challenges of the restrictions imposed on the area, which has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt since the militant Islamist movement Hamas took charge there in 2007.
There have also been reports of Hamas getting vaccines from the Gulf state of Qatar.There have also been reports of Hamas getting vaccines from the Gulf state of Qatar.
What about Palestinians working in Israel?What about Palestinians working in Israel?
There have been calls to give jabs to the thousands of Palestinian workers who cross into Israel for work, including a significant number in the construction industry, who have been cut off by lockdown restrictions.There have been calls to give jabs to the thousands of Palestinian workers who cross into Israel for work, including a significant number in the construction industry, who have been cut off by lockdown restrictions.
Around 133,000 Palestinians work in Israel and its settlements in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.Around 133,000 Palestinians work in Israel and its settlements in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics.
Most cross over to Israel from the West Bank on a daily basis.Most cross over to Israel from the West Bank on a daily basis.
"I think it is logical that we vaccinate the Israeli people and also the Palestinians at least that are working with us," Raul Srugo, president of the Israel Builders Association, told the BBC."I think it is logical that we vaccinate the Israeli people and also the Palestinians at least that are working with us," Raul Srugo, president of the Israel Builders Association, told the BBC.
Some health experts have warned of the dangers of the continued spread of the virus in Israel if the vaccine programme is not extended to Palestinians, because of how the two populations often mix.Some health experts have warned of the dangers of the continued spread of the virus in Israel if the vaccine programme is not extended to Palestinians, because of how the two populations often mix.
Whose responsibility is it to vaccinate Palestinians?Whose responsibility is it to vaccinate Palestinians?
The United Nations (UN) human rights body has released a statement saying it's Israel's responsibility to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.The United Nations (UN) human rights body has released a statement saying it's Israel's responsibility to provide equitable access to Covid-19 vaccines for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The body says differential access is "morally and legally" unacceptable under international law laid out in the Geneva Conventions on the regulation of occupied territories.The body says differential access is "morally and legally" unacceptable under international law laid out in the Geneva Conventions on the regulation of occupied territories.
But Israeli health minister, Yuli Edelstein, told the BBC: "We can also look into the so-called Oslo agreements where it says loud and clear that the Palestinians have to take care of their own health."But Israeli health minister, Yuli Edelstein, told the BBC: "We can also look into the so-called Oslo agreements where it says loud and clear that the Palestinians have to take care of their own health."
The Oslo accords - which Israel signed with the Palestine Liberation Organisation - give the Palestinian Authority oversight of public health under the principles of self-determination.The Oslo accords - which Israel signed with the Palestine Liberation Organisation - give the Palestinian Authority oversight of public health under the principles of self-determination.
But the Palestinian authorities point to another part of those accords which says: "Israel and the Palestinian side shall exchange information regarding epidemics and contagious diseases, shall co-operate in combating them and shall develop methods for [the] exchange of medical files and documents."But the Palestinian authorities point to another part of those accords which says: "Israel and the Palestinian side shall exchange information regarding epidemics and contagious diseases, shall co-operate in combating them and shall develop methods for [the] exchange of medical files and documents."
The Oslo accords, agreed in 1993 and 1995, set out how parts of the West Bank and Gaza would be governed under an interim framework until a permanent peace settlement can be reached.The Oslo accords, agreed in 1993 and 1995, set out how parts of the West Bank and Gaza would be governed under an interim framework until a permanent peace settlement can be reached.
Israel's borders explained in maps
But UN experts say international law takes priority over these accords.But UN experts say international law takes priority over these accords.
The experts say the fourth Geneva Convention is specific about the duty of the occupying power to provide healthcare, but Israel often argues it isn't technically occupying the West Bank and Gaza.The experts say the fourth Geneva Convention is specific about the duty of the occupying power to provide healthcare, but Israel often argues it isn't technically occupying the West Bank and Gaza.
Israel's borders explained in maps