During the past two weeks two vehicular ramming attacks were prevented in Judea and Samaria.
On the night of April 5, 2021, during an IDF operational activity in Bayt Nabala (near Ramallah), a roadblock was erected. A vehicle stopped at the barrier and then suddenly sped towards a group of fighters operating at a distance. The fighters at the roadblock shot at the vehicle (IDF spokesman, April 6, 2021). The Palestinian driving the vehicle was killed and his wife was wounded. The Palestinian media reported he was
Usama Sidki Mansour, 42, from the village of Bidu, northwest of Jerusalem (Wafa, April 6, 2021). The PA foreign ministry strongly condemned the [so-called] “execution” of Usama Mansour, claiming it had occurred at a time when Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu was trying to prove the morality of IDF soldiers to the International Criminal
Israel will be responsible for more Palestinian deaths if it withholds the Covid-19 vaccine
Paramedics vaccinate people in Tel Aviv on 13 January 2021 [Nir Keidar/Anadolu Agency] January 20, 2021 at 3:48 pm
Israel is refusing to provide Palestinians with Covid-19 vaccine in the occupied territories where it controls every aspect of their lives. This is in addition to helping to destroy the Palestinian health sector, especially in the Gaza Strip, with bombs and blockades.
At least one vaccine dose is being provided to more than two million Israeli citizens, including the 600,000 settlers who live illegally on occupied Palestinian land. The Palestinians, though, are yet to receive any vaccine.
Gaza Strip:
The number of new and active Covid-19 cases in Gaza continues declining. Between December January 12 and 18, 2021, 2,354 new cases were detected.
The number of active cases currently stands at 6,258, down from 7,907 a week ago. There have been 487 deaths, up from 447 a week ago.
Spokesmen for the health system in the Gaza Strip
have expressed satisfaction with the decline in the number of patients, calling it primarily the result of the preventive measures. However, they also note that the situation is still dangerous, warning that easing restrictions will cause the numbers to rise. Despite to decline in infection the Hamas administration announced the weekend lockdowns and nightly curfews would continue. In addition, the overall situation of health system has reportedly improved (increase in the number of free beds, sufficient supply of coronavirus test kits and the arrival of oxygen stations).