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First 1,000 COVID Vaccine Doses to Enter Gaza Wednesday: Israel

A worker wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus, in Gaza City [Adel Hana/The Associated Press]
A worker wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus, in Gaza City [Adel Hana/The Associated Press]
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First 1,000 COVID Vaccine Doses to Enter Gaza Wednesday: Israel

A worker wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus, in Gaza City [Adel Hana/The Associated Press]
A worker wearing protective gear sprays disinfectant as a precaution against the coronavirus, in Gaza City [Adel Hana/The Associated Press]

An initial batch of 1,000 coronavirus vaccine doses donated by Russia will enter Gaza on Wednesday, Israel's defence ministry told AFP, after it had blocked a shipment earlier this week.

The Israeli military branch responsible for civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories (COGAT) said that the Sputnik V doses were being "transferred from the Palestinian Authority (in the West Bank) to Gaza, following (Israeli) political approval".

It added that "the vaccine shipment is now making its way to the Erez crossing" that connects Israel to the blockaded Gaza Strip, an enclave which is controlled by the militant group Hamas.

Earlier, ‘Hamas’ and the ‘Islamic Jihad Movement’ hinted at potential escalation in case Israel didn't approve the entry of coronavirus vaccines to Gaza.

Hamas held Israel responsible for the consequences that might ensue from stopping the shipment.

Atef Adwan from Hamas described the blockage as racial discrimination against Palestinians.

He called on the Palestinian resistance to pressure the occupation for the sake of ensuring the entry of vaccines to the Gaza Strip.

Yusef al-Hasayna, a member of the political bureau of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, commented on this saying that the fact that the occupation stopped the shipment reveals “the true, ugly, hideous face of Israel.”

He called the delay in allowing the vaccines to enter “a war crime about which the Palestinian people and its forces cannot remain silent.”

The international community is expected to deter the Israeli occupation and to stop its crimes against Palestinians, according to Hasayna, or else it would be an accomplice.

Palestinian Authority Health Minister Mai Alkaila said that the PA tried to send 2,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine from the occupied West Bank to Gaza on Monday, but Israel stopped the shipment at a West Bank checkpoint “and informed the Palestinians there was no approval to continue to Gaza.”

“These doses were intended for medical staff working in intensive care rooms designated for COVID-19 patients, and for staff working in emergency departments,” Alkaila added.

The PA called on the WHO and other international organizations "to hold Israel fully responsible for the dangers arising from preventing the entry of vaccines into the Gaza Strip," according to Palestinian government spokesperson Ibrahim Melhem.

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UN Mission Affirms Priority to Unify Libya’s Military

Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 
Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 
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UN Mission Affirms Priority to Unify Libya’s Military

Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 
Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, met on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad (UNSMIL) 

Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, held talks on Thursday with General Mohammed Al-Haddad, Chief of General Staff of the Libyan Army.

The two officials discussed the current developments in the country and ways to unify the military, which is divided between the west and east of Libya.

“Tetteh and Al-Haddad emphasized that the unification of the military should remain a priority for authorities across Libya, as the security and stability of the country are crucial for any political process to move forward,” UNSMIL said in a statement.

They also explored how the UN Mission can effectively support Libya's efforts towards unifying military institutions, enhancing border security, and addressing other key areas of national security, it added.

In Tripoli, Tetteh also met with Acting Libyan Interior Minister, Imad Trabelsi.

The two sides exchanged views on the current situation and on how the Mission can support Libyan efforts in enhancing security provision, de-escalating tensions, and promoting dialogue between authorities and communities.

They also discussed the Ministry’s key role in election security and in contributing to a safe environment conducive to an effective political process.

Later, Tetteh and Secretary-General Deputy Special Representative, Stephanie Koury, met with the Libyan Minister of State for Women’s Affairs, Houria Al-Tormal, to discuss the importance of women’s inclusion in the political process and their role in decision-making.

Tetteh reaffirmed UNSMIL’s commitment to supporting the Libyan government’s efforts to promote women’s empowerment programs and ensure their meaningful participation in achieving sustainable development and stability in Libya.

Separately, Director General of the Development and Reconstruction Fund of Libya, Belqasim Haftar, met in Rome, with Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, to discuss ways to develop joint cooperation between the two sides in the fields of development and reconstruction. Talks focused mainly on the sectors of health, education, agriculture, infrastructure, transportation and air freight and on resuming flights between Libya and Italy.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the Government of National Stability, Osama Hammad, issued on Thursday a directive prohibiting all ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of public institutions from sharing or disseminating any news related to public affairs without prior approval from the Communications and Media Department at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The decision came after the controversy caused when Libya’s Justice Minister issued a statement on his social media account, affirming the release of Hannibal Gaddafi.

Hannibal, the son of the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, has been detained for years in Lebanon.

The Prime Minister stressed that ministry-affiliated media outlets should strictly focus on covering the daily activities of their respective ministries while ensuring continuous oversight from the PM’s Office to maintain accuracy and prevent the spread of misinformation.