A polio vaccination center in northern Gaza became the latest flashpoint in the conflict this weekend, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting six injured—including four children—after a strike hit the facility during a humanitarian pause intended for lifesaving immunizations.
The Sheikh Radwan health center was struck Saturday as families arrived for polio vaccinations, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He called the incident “heartbreaking” in a post on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the pause was specifically agreed upon to allow safe access to vaccinations.
“Parents were trying to protect their children from disease—only for them to face violence instead,” Tedros wrote, though he did not assign blame for the attack. Polio, a highly infectious disease, has been largely eradicated globally but remains a threat in conflict zones where healthcare access is disrupted.
The strike highlights the growing risks to civilians and health workers in Gaza, where hospitals and clinics have repeatedly been caught in crossfire. WHO has urged all parties to prioritize the protection of medical facilities.
As global leaders push for sustained ceasefires, this incident underscores the urgent need to safeguard humanitarian corridors. For now, questions linger: Who targeted a vaccination center? And how many more lives will be upended before peace gets a real shot?
