Palestinian Authority & Gaza Strip

Ramallah's Health Ministry says soccer team, some 100 students, and dozens of government officials among those inoculated first.

Intensive care units for COVID-19 patients have reached 95% occupancy in the West Bank and schools have been identified as a major cause for the fast spread of infections, says the Palestinian Authority.

Palestinian Minister of Civil Affairs Hussein al-Sheikh has reportedly informed US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs Hady Amr that Hamas is "committed to a Palestinian state according to the 1967 lines."

IMPACT-se finds that an “exercise describes ‘pieces of corpses’ being dispersed throughout city streets to teach grade-nine spelling”; and Israel, a UN member state, “is solely referred to as ‘the Enemy’ or ‘the Occupation’ and is erased from maps of the region.”

Some Israeli lawmakers demanded that vaccines could be used as a bargaining chip for the release of captives held by the terrorist group.

The rollback in women’s rights could spark a backlash in Gaza at a time when the Palestinians plan to hold elections later this year. It could also solidify Hamas’ support among its conservative base at a time when it faces criticism over living conditions in the territory it has ruled since 2007.

Egyptian daily Al-Masry al-Youm says Tehran has decided to cut its support to the Gaza-based terrorist group over the dire economic crisis. PIJ leaders are said to be furious and turning against each other over the scarce funds.

Over 90% of Gaza City’s 385,000 eligible voters register to vote as Fatah, Hamas reaffirm commitment to holding first parliamentary, presidential elections since 2006.

First Palestinian parliamentary elections set for May 22 but parties are still in disagreement over electoral basics such as how ballot stations will be guarded and how courts will adjudicate election disputes.