In a press conference on Tuesday, the United States urged urgency and flexibility in finalizing a truce between Israel and Hamas in Gaza following the deaths of six hostages. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized the need for a quick resolution to bring remaining hostages home and alleviate the suffering of both the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Efforts are underway to work with mediators Egypt and Qatar to push for a final agreement, despite disagreements over the presence of Israeli troops at the Gaza-Egypt border. In light of growing pressure, Britain has halted some arms exports to Israel due to concerns about potential human rights violations.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has initiated an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Gaza to combat the spread of disease amidst the devastation caused by the conflict. With over 161,000 children already vaccinated, the campaign aims to reach a total of 640,000 children under ten in the region.
Despite challenges, the WHO representative remains hopeful about the vaccination drive’s progress, highlighting Gaza’s high vaccination acceptance rate prior to the conflict but expressing concern over the overall health situation in the region.