Blinken said during a press conference: “It is urgent that this matter be completed in the coming days, and we call on Israel to facilitate this work.”
The World Health Organization launched a vaccination campaign in Gaza Strip On September 1, after the first case of polio was confirmed in the besieged and devastated Strip in 25 years.
The first phase of vaccination was completed, and the second phase began on schedule on October 14, before stopping temporarily due to heavy Israeli bombing.
Blinken added, “One of the things that has succeeded in recent months is a vaccination campaign against… polio For hundreds of thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza. But in order to end this campaign, we must complete a second phase of vaccination, and this must be done within a certain period of time (linked) to the first phase of the vaccination campaign.”
Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned in mid-October that the United States might deprive Israel of some military aid if there was no improvement in humanitarian aid in Gaza within thirty days.
Blinken confirmed Thursday that the United States is “closely” monitoring the extent of the Jewish state’s commitment. He said, “There has been real progress, but it is not enough, and we work daily to ensure that Israel does what it must do to ensure that this assistance reaches those who need it.”
The thirty-day deadline ends after the US presidential elections expected on Tuesday.
