The Israeli occupation agreed to three “pauses” in its ongoing assault, intended to allow for a polio vaccination campaign. Each pause, lasting from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time (03:00 to 12:00 GMT) for three consecutive days, covered different areas of Gaza. However, these pauses are separate from ongoing ceasefire negotiations.
Allowing Vaccinations While Bombing Children
Despite the pauses, reports indicated that bombings continued in areas designated for the ceasefire, including eastern regions like al-Maghazi camp and al-Bureij. Attacks persisted in the northern and southern parts of Gaza, as Israeli forces shifted their strikes to other areas while pausing in select regions.
“Even if your children have been vaccinated previously, bring them to the nearest vaccination point for the emergency dose to protect them from the virus,” the World Health Organization (WHO) urged. “Vaccination is free and safe.”
However, for the people of Gaza, nothing feels safe while Israeli aggression continues. Bombings target children and shelters alike, creating an environment of terror.
Diana, a mother of two, voiced her frustration over the contradictory nature of the so-called pauses in attacks.
“We’ve been instructed to vaccinate our children against polio, but who will vaccinate them against Israeli attacks?” she asked.
Diana also criticized the international community for its perceived silence in the face of Israeli actions. “Where are the Western powers that claim to uphold justice, rights, and freedoms while turning a blind eye to the violations committed by their ally?” she questioned.
“Are they aware of what is happening here? They give us a short pause in attacks, and afterward, they come back and kill us as usual,” she added.
Living in Fear
Um Jameel, a mother of five, described the constant fear her children live under due to the bombings.
“My children are terrified and cannot sleep. The continuous explosions cause my baby, Osama, to cry and tremble,” she said, expressing concern about leaving the shelter to vaccinate her children for fear of being targeted by Israeli forces.
“We know they [the Israeli occupation] are treacherous. On my way to the clinic, I kept thinking we were going to be targeted, or a drone would strike us.”
Struggling to Survive
Diana, displaced from her home in al-Daraj neighborhood to al-Maghazi camp, described the severe hardships she and others have endured over the past 11 months of Israeli assault.
“We lack basic necessities like food, milk, and clean water due to Israeli restrictions on crossings and the limited aid entering Gaza,” she said.
The ongoing war has also destroyed livelihoods, leaving many families struggling to survive. “How are people supposed to earn a living? Life is very hard, especially for parents trying to keep their children alive.”
Israel’s Bank of Targets: Children
The WHO’s vaccination campaign aims to reach approximately 640,000 Palestinian children. Yet, as the campaign continues, so does the violence.
Since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, over 16,756 children have been killed, including 115 infants born and killed during the war, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza.
Children and women make up 69 percent of the victims, and about 17,000 children have been orphaned.
Source: qudsnen
