01 July 2021 Last Updated: 3:20 p.m. CURRENT EVENTS IN LIGHT OF COVID-19

The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development - REFORM

http://images.wafa.ps/image/NewsThumbImg/Larg/614be858-982a-4703-8a26-c4ffdcbbc0ed.jpeg As the highly contagious Coronavirus, COVID-19, is affecting 220 countries and territories around the world, Palestine attempts to contain a local outbreak that has effectively halted daily life and led to tens of thousands of people entering quarantine.1

Currently, the Palestinian Ministry of Health stated that there is currently 23,272 people placed in quarantine, both at home and at designated facilities. Although 1,893,565 individuals in the and have been tested for COVID-19, there remains a deficiency in the amount of testing kits, as there is an increase in the number of individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19.2 509,712 individuals in the West Bank and Gaza Strip took the COVID-19 vaccine, including 368,532 who received the second dose.3 Global Level4

# of COVID-19 Cases # of Recoveries # of Deaths # of Currently Infected Patients 183,074,029 167,634,092 3,964,764 11,475,173

1https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ 2http://www.corona.ps 3 http://www.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/26945 4 https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ Local Level4 Location # of COVID-19 # of # of Deaths # of Currently Cases Recoveries Infected Patients West Bank 228,676 225,755 2,769 152 (including Including 28,841 in (28,573) (268) (0) ) Jerusalem Gaza Strip 114,453 111,121 1,064 2,268

Today, 01.07.2021 the Palestinian Minister of Health, Dr. Mai Al-Kela, announced that there are 121 new people who have COVID-19, bringing the total cases to 343,129. Since Monday, 28.06.2021, there has been an overall increase of 437 cases in Palestine. The Ministry further indicated that there are a total of 336,876 recoveries and 3,833 deaths, while 2,420 remain active across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, including occupied Jerusalem. Sources: The Palestinian Ministry of Health’s Website, Ma’an News Agency and Wafa News Agency

Today, Dr. Wissam Sbeihat, the Head of the Coronavirus Response Team in the North of the occupied Palestinian territory, said that there are 22 people who tested positive for the new variant of the COVID-19 in Palestine, where most of them came from abroad, specifically from the Gulf countries. Dr. Sbeihat warned that this new variant is more widespread and rapid, as the person who has it can transmit it to more than six people. He also stressed that the COVID-19 preventive teams are following up on the epidemiological map of those who have this COVID-19 variant. Dr. Sbeihat explained that those who received the vaccine, regardless of its type, may have mild symptoms, but studies are still ongoing, and it is not possible to ascertain the extent of its effectiveness to form antibodies to this variant. He pointed out that in the near future there will be outputs for the studies conducted by experts in this regard, which will be announced by the Ministry of Health. Sources: The Palestinian Ministry of Health’s Website and Wafa News Agency

Yesterday, 30.06.2021, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Japanese Ambassador to Palestine, Masayuki Maguchi, the Palestinian Minister of Finance, Shukri Bishara, and the Palestinian Minister of Health, Dr. Mai Al-Kela, signed with Abe Toshiya, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency Palestine Office, a grant from the Japanese government worth $8 million to support Palestine’s efforts in confronting the COVID-19 outbreak. Masayuki Maguchi said: "We offer this grant to Palestine in order to support the emergency response to confront the Coronavirus, and we will spare no effort to work on the humanitarian and development level to confront the economic and social challenges facing Palestine. We will continue to support Palestine at all levels." This grant includes refrigerators and refrigerated cars to store COVID-19 vaccines, in addition to laboratory equipment and special equipment for Coronavirus tests. Sources: The Palestinian Ministry of Health’s Website, The Council of Ministers’ Website and Wafa News Agency

4https://www.corona.ps/details Several attacks and arrests by the Israeli occupying forces took place across Palestine:

1. Today, 17 Palestinians, were arrested from several Governorates across the West Bank, including: , and , as well as occupied Jerusalem. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Raya News Network

2. Today, 122 settlers invaded the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Ma’an News Agency

3. Yesterday, 30.06.2021, Jenin refugee camp was invaded, and 3 Palestinians, including a woman, were injured and transferred to a hospital for treatment. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Dunia Al-Wattan News Agency

4. Yesterday, refugee camp, located in the Governorate, was invaded, and a young Palestinian man was shot and transferred to a hospital for treatment. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Ajyal Radio Network

http://images.wafa.ps/image/NewsThumbImg/Larg/1bd9b010-5d11-4f1f-85b7-f3f981d663ee.jpg

5. Yesterday, a house, belonging to a Palestinian, was demolished in the town of Bruqin, west of the Governorate. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Raya News Network

6. Yesterday, 25 demolition notices were issued for houses in the village of Al-Sawiya, south of the , under the pretext of building in Area C. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Al-Hadath Newspaper

7. Yesterday, more than 30 olive trees, belonging to Palestinians, were uprooted in the south of the Nablus Governorate. Sources: Wafa News Agency and Wattan News Agency Local Events in Palestine: Today, Mohammed Al-Shalaldeh, Palestinian Minister of Justice and head of the investigation committee into the death of activist, Nizar Banat, said that: “Nizar was beaten all over his body, and during his transfer to the Preventive Security Center and before his arrival, he fainted as if he lost consciousness. Therefore, they (transferred him to a governmental hospital in Hebron in the cars of the security services, but he arrived dead.” Source: Ma’an News Agency

Yesterday, the Human Rights Institutions in the Gaza Strip denounced the confrontations between security personnel and demonstrators condemning the crime of Nizar Banat’s death during demonstrations across Palestine. Source: Ma’an News Agency

On Tuesday, 29.06.2021, the Palestinian Prime Minister, Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, received the investigation committee’s report in order to look into the circumstances of the death of Nizar Banat. The Prime Minister will refer the report as it is to the criminal authorities in the military judiciary to take the legal requirement to ensure justice. He also expressed his thanks to the investigation committee for the quick completion of its work, stressing respect for the law, human rights and the decisions of the competent judiciary in this incident, in order to ensure the application of the law against all those found guilty. Source: Ma’an News Agency

Today, the signing of a final agreement between the residents of the outpost of Eviatar, which is built on Jabal Sabih, near the town of Beita, south of the Nablus Governorate, and the new Israeli government was announced. According to this, the outpost will be depopulated without demolishing the buildings in which it was built. Source: Ma’an News Agency

The Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center, represented by attorney Suleiman Shaheen and on behalf of Palestinian land owners in the Jabal Sbeih area, submitted a letter to the legal advisor to the occupation authorities in the West Bank. The letter called on the attorney general to immediately implement the order to evacuate settlers from the Eviatar outpost, which is built on the lands of Jabal Sabih, and to remove all its buildings. Source: Ma’an News Agency

International: Yesterday, 30.06.2021, 73 Democratic members of Congress demanded that US President Joe Biden to officially announce the dropping of the so-called ”Deal of the Century.” Source: Ma’an News Agency

Yesterday, the United States called on Israel to stop the demolition of Palestinian homes in . The Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State, Jalina Porter, said: “We believe it is important to refrain from any steps that may increase tensions and make diplomatic agreements more difficult, and this also applies to home demolitions.” Sources: Wafa News Agency and Raya New Network Yesterday, the Yale College Council, the undergraduate student body at the school, has voted to endorse a statement condemning ethnic cleansing in Palestine. The statement was originally authored last month by the campus group Yalies 4 Palestine. “As Yale students, we condemn the injustice, genocide, and ethnic cleansing occurring in Palestine,” reads the statement. “We emphasize – this is not a political issue. Israeli forces are acting in clear violation of international law and are conducting egregious human rights violations against the Palestinian people. As students at one of the most privileged academic institutions in the world, we must call out injustice wherever it may occur. We stand against the discriminatory application of the law that strips Palestinians of basic rights. We stand against the violent expulsions of those living under occupation in Sheikh Jarrah. We stand against the apartheid and the persecution of Palestinians, and stand for peace and the freedom of the Palestinian people from violent military occupation.” Sources: Wafa News Agency and Wattan News Agency

Today, the Israeli Ministry of Health confirmed that total number of COVID-19 cases is 841,899, of which 6,429 died and 833,480 recovered. According to the Health Ministry’s statistics, of the 1,990 active cases in Israel, 29 are in critical condition. Sources: Ma’an News Agency and https://www.worldometers.info/

Miscellaneous:

• The Delta variant of COVID-19 has now been detected in all 50 states and Washington, DC, according to the latest tally from CNN.

• South Africa has entered at least two weeks of lockdown to combat a third wave linked to the Delta variant.

• Dr. Anthony Fauci said: "For now, the CDC recommendations stand that if in fact you are vaccinated -- fully vaccinated -- you are protected, and you do not need to wear a mask outdoors or indoors.”

• The European Union will reopen its border to more than a dozen countries starting tomorrow — but US citizens are not on the list and are still barred.

• The World Health Organization’s Director-General said that the pandemic is far from over and "is actually speeding up.”

Following are links of useful resources for information and updates on COVID-19:

1. http://www.corona.ps/details 2. https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses 3. https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1 4. https://www.moh.gov.ps/portal/en/

If you would like more information, please contact the World Health Organization through WhatsApp on: +41798931892.