Public Comment

"Some Gazans Say Polio Drive Is Futile While Israel Keeps Bombing," which highlights the challenges faced by the polio vaccination campaign in Gaza amidst ongoing violence. While the campaign has made significant strides in coverage, it is crucial to understand it within the broader context of the severe humanitarian crisis in the region. Children require 2 doses which they are unlikely to receive. 

The daily threat of bombings, as recounted by residents such as Mohammed al-Sabti, underscores the tragic absurdity of focusing on disease prevention while a more immediate and deadly threat looms. The recent airstrike on a United Nations school complex, which tragically resulted in numerous casualties, exemplifies the dire conditions faced by Gazans. The irony that this site was used for polio vaccinations only a week prior highlights the precarious nature of humanitarian efforts amidst relentless bombing campaigns. 

Moreover, human rights organizations rightly point out the paradox of international attention to polio while a broader ceasefire remains elusive. This discrepancy reflects a troubling reality where the urgency of immediate health threats is sometimes overshadowed by the inability to address the root causes of ongoing violence, including the brutal occupation, mass hunger, and the bombing of schools, hospitals, and Gaza’s infrastructure. These devastating conditions have nothing to do with “Israel’s self-defense” but rather represent an ongoing effort to annihilate the entire Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank.