(Ongoing construction works in “Armon Hanatsin” settlement in Jerusalem) Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) Continue Systematic Attacks against Palestinian Civilians and Property in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) IOF have continued to use force against peaceful protests in the West Bank. A Palestinian civilian was wounded. Dozens of protesters and 3 diplomats suffered from tear gas inhalation. IOF conducted 65 incursions into Palestinian communities in the West Bank and a limited one into the Gaza Strip. 3 Palestinian civilians were wounded during an Israeli incursion into Rammoun village, northeast of Ramallah. IOF arrested 19 Palestinians, including a child, two women and a patient. A Palestinian child was wounded by the explosion of a suspicious object left by IOF near Nablus. Israel has continued to impose a total closure on the OPT and has isolated the Gaza Strip from the outside world. IOF have continued settlement activities in the West Bank and Israeli settlers have
Until now, the besieged Gaza Strip has stayed free of the novel coronavirus spreading across the world. As the Gaza Strip has been under a stringent Israeli-led blockade for nearly 13 years, the spread of the coronavirus - officially known as COVID-19 - has become the topic of discussion for many Palestinians, with some joking that the blockade was preventing them from being exposed.But as authorities in the coastal Palestinian enclave gear up to contain any potential outbreak, serious questions have arisen about the risks and implications of such a scenario. But given its already difficult humanitarian situation and high population density, an outbreak in the Gaza Strip could prove to be catastrophic, health officials have warned. "If the virus enters Gaza and spreads, it will get out of hand," Gaza Ministry of Health spokesperson Majdi Thuhair told Middle East Eye, as he explained that a severe shortage of resources and personnel would make it near impossible