Coronavirus

Palestinians watch the lighting of a Christmas tree at Manger Square, outside the Church of the Nativity in West Bank town of Bethlehem, December 4, 2021. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

Bethlehem’s Christmas celebrations marred by Israel’s COVID orders

Israeli travel restrictions have crippled Bethlehem's biggest tourist season, with Palestinian Christians criticizing their occupier's decisions as political.

By Samah Salaime December 27, 2021

Palestinian workers in line to receive COVID-19 vaccinations at the Qalqilya checkpoint, the West Bank. (Activestills)

In a year of pandemic, Palestinian workers grapple with a virus and an occupier

Six Palestinian workers share how the COVID-19 crisis has affected their livelihoods while navigating Israeli checkpoints, permits, and restrictions.

By Activestills July 8, 2021

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas at a swearing in ceremony of the new Palestinian government, at the PA's headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah, April 13, 2019. (Nasser Ishtayeh/Flash90)

From vaccines to protests, the Palestinian Authority keeps proving its irrelevance

We Palestinians have grown tired of undemocratic leaders who treat our cause as an administrative problem rather than a struggle for freedom.

By George Zeidan and Miran Khwais June 22, 2021

Latest

An Israeli soldier tries to block photographers from taking pictures during clashes at a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, Hebron, December 10, 2017. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

In 10-year low, Israel censored an average of four articles a day in 2020

According to official figures, 2020 saw Israel's military censor barring full publication of 116 articles and partially redacting another 1,403 stories.

By Haggai Matar April 7, 2021

An Israeli receives the COVID-19 vaccine injection at a vaccination center in Jerusalem, February 16, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

After pressure, Health Ministry agrees to vaccinate Palestinian student

Following weeks of criticism, Israel's Health Ministry reverses decision to bar a Palestinian student at Tel Aviv University from getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

By Meron Rapoport March 16, 2021

A woman serves food to Palestinian children in Gaza City, Gaza on January 21, 2021. (Mohammed Zaanoun)

For Gaza’s most vulnerable, home is no safe place for COVID-19 recovery

With a fragile health system in the blockaded strip, infected Palestinians were sent to home quarantine — putting poor families, women, and children at risk.

By Fidaa Shurrab March 12, 2021

A Palestinian worker is vaccinated at a makeshift vaccine site at the Metar checkpoint in the southern West Bank, March 8. (Oren Ziv)

Following pressure, Israel begins vaccination drive for Palestinian workers

Thousands of Palestinian workers arrived at West Bank checkpoints to receive jabs following criticism of Israel's refusal to provide them COVID-19 vaccines.

By Oren Ziv March 9, 2021

A Palestinian Arab woman gives a COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Petah Tikva, January 27, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Israel denies COVID vaccine to Palestinian student at Tel Aviv University

The student, who lives in the West Bank, was barred from receiving a vaccine after traveling for hours to the university for a campus-wide vaccination drive.

By Meron Rapoport March 3, 2021

Saturday Night Live's Michael Che, February 20, 2021. (YouTube Screenshot)

Saturday Night Live tells the uncomfortable truth about Israel

Michael Che's joke about Israel's COVID-19 vaccination campaign pokes fun at a regime that does little to hide its supremacist policies.

By Edo Konrad February 22, 2021

Palestinian workers from the West Bank city of Hebron carry personal belongings as they arrive to cross to Israel at a checkpoint in Tarqumiya, March 18, 2020. Photo by Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90

Israel approves COVID vaccines for undocumented persons, but not for Palestinians

Health Ministry bars thousands of West Bank Palestinians living in Israel from getting vaccinated at makeshift COVID clinics around the country.

By Oren Ziv February 18, 2021

Palestinian Health Ministry crews conduct medical tests in Rafah, Gaza, on January 14, 2021. (Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90)

The absurdity of demanding Gaza get its own COVID-19 vaccines

Israel can’t cherry-pick its obligations to Gaza while undermining every facet of Palestinian self-rule — especially during a pandemic.

By Tania Hary January 27, 2021

Palestinians attend the funeral of a family member who died after being infected with COVID-19, near the West Bank town of Hebron, July 5, 2020. (Wisam Hashlamoun/Flash90)

Why Palestinians stopped listening to their leaders at the height of a pandemic

For years, Palestinians had been losing trust in their leadership for its corruption and failure to end the occupation. Then COVID-19 hit.

By Yara M. Asi January 20, 2021

Israelis receive the COVID-19 vaccine at a vaccination center in Jerusalem, on December 24, 2020. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Yes, Israel should be providing COVID vaccines for Palestinians

Israel was quick to receive international praise for its vaccination efforts, even though it is shirking responsibility for millions of Palestinians under its control.

By Ran Goldstein January 7, 2021