You are here
Hamas chief in Gaza contracts coronavirus
By AFP - Dec 01,2020 - Last updated at Dec 01,2020
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — The leader of Hamas in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, on Tuesday tested positive for the novel coronavirus, which is spreading rapidly across the Palestinian enclave, the Islamist group said.
“Yahya Sinwar, the head of the political bureau of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, was infected with the coronavirus today,” Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told AFP.
“His general health condition is good. He is working as usual but in isolation.”
Sinwar is the latest Palestinian leader to contract the virus.
Long-time chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat died of coronavirus-related complications last month.
Hamas official Salah Al Arouri has also tested positive for the virus.
Tuesday’s announcement came as Gaza battles surging infections.
The small and densely populated enclave of around 2 million people, under Israeli-blockade since 2007, initially held off a major coronavirus outbreak.
As the much of the world went into lockdown in March and April, Hamas imposed draconian controls, hoping to ensure its already weak health system was not overwhelmed.
Gaza had recorded just 100 cases until mid-August, but the crisis has escalated in recent weeks.
The territory’s confirmed caseload now stands at more than 21,400, with 11 deaths.
Daily infection has recently ranged between 700 and 800.
Top health officials in Gaza have warned the situation was spiralling out of control.
“The number of intensive care beds is very limited, as are medicines,” Mahmud Al Khazindar, director of a private hospital in Gaza, told AFP last month.
“If the number of cases increases, a choice will have to be made between the care of the elderly, the young and patients with another diseases.”
Related Articles
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Yahya Sinwar was reelected on Wednesday as the head of Hamas's political wing in Gaza, extending his te
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — Hamas Islamists will this week elect the head of their Gaza political branch — the group's de facto lea
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories — A senior leader in Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas warned on Thursday of the potential collapse of