Vaccination Efforts Stall in Palestine

Vaccines abound in Israel, but not in Palestine (Camera)

Israel has the highest rate of COVID-19 vaccinations in the world as of February 19. More than 82 percent of its population have received at least one dose, and as a result, the country is beginning the process of reopening. Despite its success, Israel continues to face criticism from human rights organizations and governments abroad for the low rate of vaccinations among Palestinians.

Approximately 21 percent of Israel’s population identify as Palestinian-Israeli. This segment of the population, itself the fastest-growing demographic, has received the vaccine. Palestinians, however, have not. Due to its relatively weak healthcare system, Palestine has a significantly higher case fatality rate than Israel (1.1 percent compared with 0.7 percent). The Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that they have purchased enough vaccines to cover 70 percent of its population. Despite this, only frontline workers living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have gotten their first dose.

The United Nations issued a statement on January 14 calling on Israel to “ensure swift and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for the Palestinian people under occupation.” Israel’s Minister of Health, Yuli Edelstein, retorted by telling the BBC that the Oslo Accord “says loud and clear that the Palestinians have to take care of their own health.” Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine Director for Human Rights Watch, took umbrage with Edelstein’s words, telling CNBC that Israel has a responsibility to provide welfare for Palestinians.

Israel committed 5,000 vaccines to Palestinian health workers on February 3. While the Palestinian Authority welcomed this action, it does not suffice; Palestine has a population of more than 5 million. Moreover, the Israeli government also pledged on February 20 that they would vaccinate 100,000 Palestinians. The Palestinian Minister of Health appreciated this move, however, given that only Palestinians who work in Israel will receive these inoculations, questions remain as to the Israeli government’s true intentions. Furthermore, the Palestinian Authority claimed on February 15 that Israel had blocked a shipment of 2,000 doses to the Gaza Strip. Israel allegedly made the vaccine shipment contingent on the release of hostages by Hamas. Israel has complete control over the Gaza border, which is isolated from the West Bank.

That Israel has started to reopen while 99.9 percent of Palestinians remain unvaccinated raises several concerns. As a result of the coronavirus restrictions, Palestine has reported unemployment rates topping 82 percent since the pandemic began. Similarly, Gaza, which has significant poverty and limited access to water, also desperately needs vaccines so that it can stop the economic freefall caused by COVID-19. In short, the only way that the region as a whole will be able to recover is if Israel decides to inoculate all who reside within the territories that it controls.