Palestine Reports More Than 2,700 Daily COVID-19 Cases

 A Palestinian woman gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at Clalit Health Services in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina, in the Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
A Palestinian woman gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at Clalit Health Services in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina, in the Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
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Palestine Reports More Than 2,700 Daily COVID-19 Cases

 A Palestinian woman gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at Clalit Health Services in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina, in the Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)
A Palestinian woman gets vaccinated against COVID-19 at Clalit Health Services in the Palestinian neighborhood of Beit Hanina, in the Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, on Jan. 12, 2021. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)

Palestinian Health Minister Mai Alkaila said the country registered on Monday 2,762 new Covid-19 cases and 26 deaths.

The minister said that among the new cases, 998 infections were reported in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while 1,764 cases were recorded in the Gaza Strip.

Alkaila said 186 Covid-19 patients are receiving treatment in intensive care units, including 54 on ventilators, while 547 others are currently hospitalized across the West Bank.

Regarding the Covid-19 vaccination rollout, Alkaila said that 146,986 people have received the vaccine so far with 113,958 in the West Bank and 33,028 in Gaza. Also, she noted that up to 14,674 people received the second dose of the vaccine.

On Saturday, the Palestinian government announced a partial easing of the lockdown measures during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.

The movement of individuals and vehicles will be banned everyday from 8 pm to 6 am. A weekly full lockdown will be imposed on Fridays, except for pharmacies and bakeries.

Commercial stores and transportation will be allowed to work on Saturdays under strict measures.

The government had also banned weddings, parties, festivals, and any other forms of public gathering.

Meanwhile, the weekly Friday prayer will be held in public squares, while the daily Tarawih prayers will be held in mosques, as per the protocols of the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs.

During a cabinet session on Monday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said he announced the cautious easing of COVID-19 restrictions during Ramadan.

He called on residents to continue to wear masks, respect social distancing in addition to avoid iftars and public gatherings.



Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
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Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin

Israeli strikes pounded a densely-populated part of the Lebanese capital and its southern suburbs on Tuesday, hours ahead of an anticipated announcement of a ceasefire ending hostilities between Israel and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah.

A strike on Beirut hit the Noueiri district with no evacuation warning and killed at least one person, Lebanon's health ministry said in a preliminary toll.

Minutes later, at least 10 Israeli strikes hit Beirut's southern suburbs. They began approximately 30 minutes after the Israeli military issued evacuation orders for 20 locations in the area, the largest such warning yet.

As the strikes were under way, Israel's military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a "widespread attack" on Hezbollah targets across the city.

The Israeli military said it was currently striking Hezbollah in the Beirut area saying: "You are located near facilities and interests affiliated with Hezbollah, against which the Israel Forces will act in the near future," military spokesman Avichay Adraee said on X including a map of the targeted areas.

The army in a statement minutes later said it "is currently conducting strikes on Hezbollah terror targets in the area of Beirut" but did not provide more details.