Egypt Increases Number of Vaccination Centers

A coronavirus vaccination campaign in Cairo (Reuters)
A coronavirus vaccination campaign in Cairo (Reuters)
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Egypt Increases Number of Vaccination Centers

A coronavirus vaccination campaign in Cairo (Reuters)
A coronavirus vaccination campaign in Cairo (Reuters)

Egypt announced that the number of vaccination centers was raised last week to 678. A total of 512 centers are dedicated to citizens and 175 centers to travelers.

Also, Egypt’s Ministry of Health and Population is providing facilitations to travelers to receive the vaccine.

The Ministry on Wednesday reported 203 new coronavirus cases and eight deaths.

A total of 286,938 cases have been reported in Egypt, alongside 16,691 deaths and 236,539 recoveries.

Health and Population Minister Hala Zayed said that 1.3 million of the State's administrative apparatus personnel were vaccinated against coronavirus.

Zayed added that 250,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson Covid 19 vaccine were given to travelers.

The minister said the number of Egyptians seeking to be vaccinated before traveling increased from 260,000 to 760,000 over the past 72 hours. A total of 362,000 vaccination certificates with a QR code system were issued in August, she said.

In a related context, the cabinet denied postponing the beginning of the scholar year that coincides with the fourth wave of the virus.

Classes will start on the scheduled dates, the cabinet said, noting that the preventative precautions will continue to be applied to limit the spread of the virus.

The Ministry of Education and Technical Education urged workers to register on the website to guarantee to receive the two doses before the beginning of the year.



Independent Israeli Commission Blames Netanyahu and Others for October 2023 Attack

A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Independent Israeli Commission Blames Netanyahu and Others for October 2023 Attack

A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)

The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services.

The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe.

The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.”

It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues.

The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means.

On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking.

The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack.

Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over.