Cairo Says Death Rate Dropped during 4th COVID Wave

The ministers of health and solidarity discuss supporting the health and social care system of citizens (Egyptian health ministry spokesperson's Facebook page)
The ministers of health and solidarity discuss supporting the health and social care system of citizens (Egyptian health ministry spokesperson's Facebook page)
TT

Cairo Says Death Rate Dropped during 4th COVID Wave

The ministers of health and solidarity discuss supporting the health and social care system of citizens (Egyptian health ministry spokesperson's Facebook page)
The ministers of health and solidarity discuss supporting the health and social care system of citizens (Egyptian health ministry spokesperson's Facebook page)

Egypt's Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed has affirmed that coronavirus-related deaths rate declined during the fourth wave.

The health ministry reported Wednesday 692 new COVID-19 cases, raising Egypt’s total infections to 298,988 since the outbreak began in early 2020.

Egypt registered 27 fatalities, which increased the total number of deaths from complications caused by the disease to 17,043.

The country’s total number of recoveries reached 251,902, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health.

During a joint press conference held Thursday with German Ambassador to Egypt Frank Hartmann at Princess Fatma Academy for Vocational Medical Education in Abbasiya, Cairo, Zayed lauded cooperation between the two countries’ governments to confront the coronavirus outbreak.

Zayed said that negotiations are underway with Germany to acquire the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

"We have already received raw materials for manufacturing 15 million doses and we're currently receiving those for another 15 million doses," said Zayed.

"We currently provide our vaccination centers with 2 million doses per week of the VACSERA-Sinovac vaccine," said Zayed, noting that Egypt will have produced 80 million doses of the jab by the end of December.

Zayed said coronavirus vaccines are available in 850 vaccination centers across Egypt, including three large ones that can accommodate 60,000 people per day.

Zayed also thanked the United Kingdom for supporting Egypt by sending 300,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the past two weeks.



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)
TT

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.