WHO calls for humanitarian pauses in Gaza in connection with polio vaccinations

The World Health Organization says humanitarian pauses must be respected to allow polio vaccinations in the northern Gaza Strip after six people, including four children, were injured in an attack on a medical clinic.

On Saturday, WHO launched the third stage of the polio vaccination campaign. The second phase was postponed as Israel escalated its offensive, leaving some 119,000 children without vaccinations.

The Israeli military and the Islamic group Hamas have agreed to observe a truce while vaccinations continue.

However, Palestinian media reported that an Israeli drone strike hit the clinic on Saturday afternoon.

An Israeli military spokesman said on social media that Israel was aware of reports of injured Palestinian civilians. The official said that, contrary to these claims, the Israeli military did not strike in the area at the specified time.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Saturday in X that the attack threatens “the sanctity of protecting children’s health.” He also said these “significant, area-specific humanitarian pauses” must be “fully respected.”