Israel Tops the Vaccination Charts — But Palestinians Are Left Out

By Xander Galbreath, YCLer in Ottawa

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The cruelty of the Israeli government against the Palestinian people knows no bounds. Though Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza have been living in an apartheid state for decades, on 12 January 2021, the Israeli human rights organization, B’Tselem, finally acknowledged this reality. In addition to policies of segregation and military occupation, the Israeli government is also committing medical apartheid, as evidenced through the stark inequality of Israel’s vaccine rollout. As of the time of publishing, 60% of Israeli citizens have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, with 55% being fully vaccinated. In contrast, not even 0.5% of Palestinians have been vaccinated in Gaza and the West Bank. It is important to note that during the period of apartheid in South Africa, not even the South African government committed medical apartheid. 

The occupying Israeli state is no stranger to disregarding international law, having militarily occupied Palestinian territory and denied basic human rights to Palestinians for decades. Their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic is no different. Currently, Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, or those of whom commute and work in Israel or its West Bank settlements, are entitled to be vaccinated by the Israeli government — however the majority of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, even those administering the vaccines to other Palestinians, are not. Israel’s refusal to vaccinate all Palestinians not only amounts to another genocidal policy against the Palestinian people, but as an occupying power, it is a direct contravention of Article 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention which states:

“To  the  fullest  extent  of the  means  available  to  it, the Occupying  Power  has  the  duty  of  ensuring  and  maintaining, with the co-operation of national and local authorities, the medical and hospital  establishments  and  services, public  health  and  hygiene  in the occupied territory, with particular reference to the adoption and application  of  the  prophylactic  and  preventive  measures  necessary to combat the spread of contagious diseases and epidemics.”

The current COVID-19 situation in Gaza and the West Bank is dire. With the spread of new variants out of control, it is likely to get much worse. Palestine has recorded over 268,000 COVID-19 cases, including 2,860 deaths thus far, though the number of unreported infections and related deaths is likely far higher. With infection rates upwards of 30% in the West Bank, Palestine’s medical infrastructure is being pushed past its limit. In Gaza, it is predicted that over 40% of the population currently have or have had COVID-19. Israel’s policy of deliberately withholding resources to Palestine, in addition to its control and restriction of Palestinian movement, are exacerbating the pandemic.

The reality of medical apartheid perpetuated by Israel sheds a tragic light on the access to vaccines between the Global North and the Global South. Not only is the Global North hoarding vaccines, but the capitalist imperative of protecting “intellectual property” so that only a certain few can profit off of COVID-19 vaccines results in preventable deaths and the misery of many. 

Medical apartheid is simply the most recent chapter of Israel’s heavy book of abuses. Israel has run out of excuses to defend their violent policies against Palestinians, not to mention their complete disregard for international law. It is necessary to stand up against Israeli occupation and fight for Palestinian freedom and self-determination.

Photo: Adel Hana/AP