Israeli barring of polio vaccinations puts 602,000 Gaza children at risk of 'permanent paralysis'

Israel's barring of the entry of vaccines into Gaza is putting 602,000 children at risk of "permanent paralysis, and chronic disabilities" the enclave's health ministry said today.

In a statement, the ministry warned that the current situation is a "time bomb that threatens to spread the epidemic".

It added that the move could have "serious and catastrophic repercussions" that will put yet more pressure on an already exhausted health system.