Jordan Urges China for Swift Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccines

The first shipment of 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/SK Bioscience COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Jordan on Friday (Petra)
The first shipment of 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/SK Bioscience COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Jordan on Friday (Petra)
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Jordan Urges China for Swift Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccines

The first shipment of 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/SK Bioscience COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Jordan on Friday (Petra)
The first shipment of 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/SK Bioscience COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Jordan on Friday (Petra)

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi discussed Friday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi the swift delivery of vaccines, as the country battles a spike in COVID-19 cases.

In a phone conversation with China's top diplomat, Safadi discussed means to further boost bilateral ties, namely, the fight against the novel coronavirus.

They stressed the strength of bilateral relations and the keenness of the two friendly countries to continue working to increase economic, investment, tourism and trade cooperation, Petra news agency said.

On Friday, Jordan recorded 55 COVID-19 related deaths and 7,705 new infections, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the crisis to 464,856, a statement issued by the Health Ministry said.

Amid rising daily infections, the Jordanian cabinet decided on Wednesday to close indoor swimming pools, sports centers, academies and public parks until the end of March, and it prolonged a curfew from 7 pm till 6 am as of Saturday.

Awqaf Minister Muhammad Khalaileh also suspended Friday prayers until March 31.

Jordan received on Friday the first shipment of 144,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/SK Bioscience COVID-19 vaccine from COVAX Facility at Queen Alia International Airport.

"We now see the results of partnership with the COVAX Facility. This supply is very timely to support our efforts to accelerate the COVID-19 national immunization campaign. We will continue offering the COVID-19 vaccines to the most vulnerable populations," said Minister of Health Nathir Obeidat.

A second shipment of vaccines from COVAX is expected to arrive in Jordan in April.

Last month, Obeidat said Jordan is set to receive 2.2 million doses of Pfizer- BioNTech’s vaccine.



Israel Sends Negotiators to Cairo to Extend Phase-one of Gaza Ceasefire

 Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
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Israel Sends Negotiators to Cairo to Extend Phase-one of Gaza Ceasefire

 Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled
Freed Palestinian prisoners gesture out of the windows as they arrive in a bus after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a ceasefire and a hostages-prisoners swap deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, February 27, 2025. REUTERS/Hatem Khaled

Israel announced on Thursday it was sending negotiators to Cairo for talks, seeking to extend a first phase of a ceasefire due to expire in two days, in the apparent aim of securing the release of more hostages while delaying any final deal on Gaza's future.

The announcement came after Hamas handed over four bodies of hostages, the last due to be released under the terms of the six-week first phase of the ceasefire that started on January 19. Talks have yet to begin on a second phase that would ultimately lead to a permanent end to the war.

Israel Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told reporters in Jerusalem the delegation would travel to Egypt to see whether there was common ground to negotiate an extension to the truce.

"We said we are ready to make the framework longer in return to release more hostages. If it is possible, we'll do that."

Two government officials told Reuters that Israel was seeking to extend the initial phase, with Hamas freeing three hostages each week in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

The warring sides have not spelled out what would happen beyond Saturday if the first phase of the ceasefire expires with no agreement. Egypt and Qatar are mediating between Israel and Hamas, with the backing of the United States.

The initial phase of the ceasefire included the handover of 33 Israeli hostages in return for some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails. Fighting was paused and Israeli troops withdrew from some positions in Gaza.

Talks over the second phase, intended to secure the release of the remaining hostages and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, had been meant to start earlier this month.

Israel's government faces public pressure to stick to the ceasefire to free remaining hostages, while some within the right-wing government want to return to war to fulfil their objective of eradicating Hamas.