The Palestinian Authority on Saturday announced new coronavirus restrictions, including a partial closure, for the occupied West Bank as COVID-19 cases increase.
The whole picture: The new measures come because Israel, which is leading the world in vaccinations, is facing increased pressure to ensure that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip have equal access to vaccinations.
- The Israeli prime minister’s office announced this week that the country would send a “symbolic amount” of vaccines to the Palestinian Authority and to several countries asking for help, Axios’ Barak Ravid reported.
- While the Palestinian Authority has launched a limited vaccination campaign, with more vaccines on the way, according to The New York Times, it remains unclear when the majority of the more than 5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will have access to vaccines.
Details: The West Bank restrictions, which begin on Sunday, will last at least 12 days, according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
- Most schools will have to close and universities will have to move to virtual education.
- The restrictions include a ban on most travel between provinces and to and from Jerusalem, a night clock and a ban on most movements on Fridays and Saturdays.
- Weddings, parties and funerals are also prohibited.
By the numbers: Johns Hopkins University data has recorded more than 181,900 COVID-19 cases and 2,025 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported 910 new cases and five deaths in the previous 24 hours on Saturday, according to the Times.
Go deeper: Blinken asks for Israeli help to facilitate the vaccination for Palestinians