Press Release: Gaza under lockdown after first COVID-19 cases in general population

The Gaza Strip has been placed under full lock down for at least 48 hour starting from Monday night, 24 August 2020, after four cases of COVID-19 were confirmed outside quarantine facilities, where all Gaza residents returning from abroad are isolated. This marks the first time any positive cases have been detected among the general population in Gaza.

Some two million Palestinians in the impoverished Gaza Strip are now susceptible to a potentially devastating outbreak amid minimal resources and a healthcare system that is on the brink of collapse after almost 14 years of Israel’s illegal closure restrictions and repeated military attacks.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights calls on all residents of Gaza to adhere to the Ministry of Health’s safety and preventive guidelines and comply with lockdown measures. Our offices are closed for the time being, and we will continue to work from home.