The Fourth Geneva Convention obliges Israel to ensure access to vaccines to Palestinians in the occupied territory. Israeli authorities
claim that responsibility for vaccinating this population, under the Oslo Accords, falls on the Palestinian Authority (PA). However, the PA’s activities, particularly given its limited authority and economic means, do not absolve the Israeli government of its responsibilities under international law, as it remains the occupying power. Moreover, the Israeli government maintains exclusive control over Area C of the West Bank, encompassing more than 60 percent of the West Bank, leaving it no excuse not to vaccinate Palestinians living there.
After more than 50 years of occupation with no end in sight, Israel’s duties go beyond offering spare doses. At a minimum, it should ensure Palestinians in the occupied territory have access to vaccine equivalent to what it is providing to its own citizens.