West Bank, Gaza record highest ever daily virus toll
The UN recently warned that parts of the Palestinian territories are not prepared to cope with a major outbreak of COVID-19.
The Palestinian territories recorded their highest ever daily count of new COVID-19 cases today. The alarming figure comes on the heels of a United Nations warning about the devastating effects of an outbreak in the area.
Palestine registered 1,472 new infections on Friday. This figure is the highest ever for a single day, according to the WAFA News Agency, which is run by the Palestinian Authority.
The West Bank and the Gaza Strip constitute the Palestinian territories. The West Bank is administered by the internationally recognized PA. The Israeli military also controls parts of the West Bank directly, and much of the international community considers it occupied by Israel.
The political and military organization Hamas controls the Gaza Strip internally. Israel maintains a land, sea and air blockade of the Strip, which also has a border with Egypt. Israel and Hamas frequently fight one another.
