Palestinian unions and activists called for an investigation into the details of the deal to exchange Corona virus vaccines with Israel, which was canceled after it was found that it was close to expiration.
In a statement, the Federation of Health Professions Syndicates called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to “form an independent investigation committee to discuss the merits of this deal, and to put the committee’s report before our people for integrity, transparency, and accountability for the negligent.”
The National Democratic Forum, led by Fatah leader Nasser Al-Kidwa, called – in a statement – to form an investigation committee completely independent of any government agency, to know all the details of this deal.
Earlier,
For her part, Palestinian Health Minister Mai Al-Kaila said – in press statements – that the agreement was made with the American company “Pfizer” and not with Israel.
Yesterday evening, the Palestinian government announced the cancellation of the deal after it was found that it did not conform to the specifications contained in the agreement.
In turn, Hussein al-Sheikh, a member of the Fatah Central Committee and head of the General Authority for Civil Affairs (the official link with Israel), denied any connection to the deal he heads.
The Sheikh said in a tweet via Twitter that what was published by some media outlets on the subject of the vaccine from Israel is completely untrue, and it is fishing in murky waters.
Anger on the platforms
Since the Israeli announcement on Friday morning, the vaccine deal has become the talk of the Palestinian street and on social media platforms.
Activists widely circulated a video clip documenting the delivery of vaccine doses by the government coordination unit in the occupied territories, which was agreed to be delivered in accordance with the vaccine exchange deal, amid a state of cynicism and denunciation and questions about the nature of this agreement, which they described as a “farce and scandal.”
Tweeters attacked the Palestinian Authority, considering what is happening “in vain with lives” and offering more free concessions and the increasing legitimacy of the occupation, as the authority thus represents the worst version of cooperation, identification and groveling of an enemy that does not tolerate a moment to increase its expansion, arrogance and legitimacy, they said.
According to the data of the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the number of people infected with the Corona virus since the beginning of the pandemic has reached 341,446 people, of whom 3,818 died, and 334,513 recovered.
Today, Saturday, the ministry stated in the daily epidemiological statement that the total of those who received the vaccine in the West Bank and Gaza Strip amounted to 445,598 people, including 270,795 who received the two doses.
On the other hand, Israel launched a massive vaccination campaign at the end of last December after an agreement with the giant pharmaceutical group Pfizer, and so far more than 5 million Israelis have received two doses of the vaccine.