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Palestinian PM Condemns Politicization, ‘Piracy’ of Vaccines

A Palestinian health worker prepares a syringe as he treats COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. (Reuters)
A Palestinian health worker prepares a syringe as he treats COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. (Reuters)
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Palestinian PM Condemns Politicization, ‘Piracy’ of Vaccines

A Palestinian health worker prepares a syringe as he treats COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. (Reuters)
A Palestinian health worker prepares a syringe as he treats COVID-19 patients at a hospital in Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah. (Reuters)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh criticized the politicization of the provision of coronavirus vaccines, describing it as “piracy.”

Speaking at a weekly cabinet meeting, Shtayyeh warned that the problem of COVID-19 vaccines not reaching Palestine “is not in the provision of funds, but in the companies fulfilling their obligations.”

He noted there is “tremendous demand and limited supply” of the vaccine in Palestine.

“We have activated all our diplomatic, political, international and medical channels,” asserted Shtayyeh, adding that great progress has been made to obtain the shots, whether through donations from the COVAX global initiative, or those paid for by the government.

He hoped these efforts will result in the arrival of the first batch of vaccines soon, saying it will be possible to launch a national campaign for herd immunity to create a safe environment against the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Health spokesman, Kamal al-Shakhra announced that the actual number of coronavirus cases in Palestinian territories is actually double the recorded infections.

Palestinian authorities have registered more than 235,000 cases, 2,509 deaths and 212,688 recoveries, while they have only received 12,000 vaccine shots.

The government imposed a five-day lockdown in the West Bank, starting Monday, to counter the spread of the coronavirus.

Shakhra told Voice of Palestine radio that Palestinian territories have witnessed a spike in cases, with 28 percent positive tests being confirmed in the past two weeks due to the wide spread of the British and African variants.

Palestinian Minister of Health Mai al-Kailah announced Monday 2,298 new COVID-19 cases, 166 of which were recorded in Gaza, and 25 deaths in the past 24 hours.

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Arab World

Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
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Muted Responses to Deadly Houthi Escalation and Rising Insurance Costs

The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 
The Greek ship Magic Seas sank in the Red Sea as a result of Houthi attacks (Reuters). 

As the Houthi threat to international shipping grows ever more serious - most recently with the sinking of two Greek vessels, killing three sailors and leaving twelve missing - there has been little substantial reaction from major world powers. The United States, Germany’s foreign minister, and the UN envoy to Yemen were among the few to voice concern and call for de-escalation.

While Houthi attacks intensify across the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, insurance premiums for commercial ships in these waters have surged to as much as 1% of a vessel’s value, according to leading global insurers. This underscores the scale of the risk and the declining confidence in protecting this vital maritime corridor.

The two assaults targeted the cargo ships Magic Seas and True Confidence between Sunday and Tuesday last week. According to the EU naval mission Aspides, tasked with safeguarding Red Sea navigation, the attacks killed at least three sailors, wounded others, and left a dozen unaccounted for.

The strike on the Liberian-flagged Greek-operated True Confidence marked a dangerous escalation. The Houthis claimed responsibility, saying they used an explosive-laden drone boat and six ballistic and cruise missiles. They alleged the ship was heading to Israel’s port of Eilat, though independent verification was lacking.

Despite the scale of the violence, most global capitals limited their responses to brief statements. Only the US ambassador to the UN issued a pointed condemnation, along with remarks from a State Department spokesperson and a statement by UN envoy Hans Grundberg.

The US denounced the attacks as “terrorist and unjustified,” describing them as evidence of the “ongoing threat posed by Iranian-backed Houthis to regional maritime security and commerce.” The US ambassador stressed Washington’s commitment to denying the Houthis resources to fund such operations and called on the UN Security Council to remove obstacles blocking its expert monitoring teams in Yemen.

The State Department likewise condemned the attacks as a threat to the freedom of navigation and economic stability. “We will continue to take necessary steps to protect commercial shipping,” the statement warned, urging the broader international community to condemn the Houthis’ actions.

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Iran must use its influence to halt Houthi attacks. Speaking in Vienna alongside his Israeli and Austrian counterparts, he declared: “We strongly condemn these attacks and expect Iran to act to stop them.”

UN envoy Grundberg expressed deep concern about the sinking of True Confidence, warning of the humanitarian and environmental consequences of such operations, which violate international law and Security Council Resolution 2722. He urged the Houthis to provide sustainable guarantees to end attacks and build on prior understandings with the United States.

Oman had brokered a limited agreement last May under which the Houthis pledged to stop targeting American ships in return for a suspension of broad US-led military action - though the deal excluded Israel.

A Dangerous Precedent

Yemeni officials say the tepid reactions from much of the world send the Houthis the wrong message, reinforcing their sense of impunity. On Thursday, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi boasted in his weekly address about sinking the vessels, calling it a “clear lesson” to any shipping company doing business with Israel.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have carried out over 150 attacks, disrupting global trade flows through the Red Sea. Their operations have sunk British and Greek ships and damaged many more, including hijacking the Galaxy Leader and holding its crew for over a year.