JERUSALEM, 22 July 2024 (TON): Israel military said Sunday that its Health ministry found type-2 poliovirus in environmental samples collected from different sewage samples taken from areas of Gaza and started vaccinating its troops in Gaza against polio and supplying vaccines for the Palestinian population. No human cases have been reported.

A number Israel’s Defence Forces and reserves have refused to allow vaccination on the ground,” “In Torah law you are not permitted to inject yourself with a vaccine that offers no significant medical curative benefit to the patient”. Such vaccines are forbidden in Jewish communities and they have been refusing to vaccinate their children. A Jew religious leader has said that Palestinians should also refuse as Jews do not allow their children to be vaccinated in Israel or in other countries.

The vaccine being used for the Palestinian population was banned in Israel and declared dangerous by the Israeli Health officials and authorities in other countries.

Army authorities have begun "a broad vaccination operation for all ground troops, both regular and reserves followed vaccination of Palestinian population," said a military statement.

The statement said UN agencies also found type-2 poliovirus in six environmental samples collected on 23 June 2024.