Italians stage sit-in denouncing Israel's failure to provide COVID vaccines

Rome, February 27 (RHC)-- Rome's Association of Palestinians called a sit-in in the vicinity of the Italian parliament to draw attention on Israel’s COVID-19 vaccine program which excludes the nearly five million Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, under Israeli military occupation.  The protest was supported by a number of progressive solidarity groups and trade unions.  

The Fourth Geneva Convention stipulates that Israel has a responsibility as an occupying power to ensure medical aid reaches the occupied territories to combat the coronavirus crisis.  Responsibilities also include providing vaccines in a nondiscriminatory manner to Palestinians living under its control.

While Palestinians' right to healthcare is undermined, Tel Aviv has pledged to send thousands of spare coronavirus vaccines to foreign allies that have accepted Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem al-Quds such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Honduras.

In January, the United Nations voiced its concern over Israel’s refusal to vaccinate the Palestinians, but the appeal has gone unheard so far.