Gaza, measuring 375 sq km, is home to around two million Palestinians. Since 2007 it has been under the control of the militant group Hamas, bitter rivals of President Mahmoud Abbas, whose power base is in the West Bank.
Smaller and poorer, Gaza has for years been under a blockade by Israel, which cites security concerns to stop weapons and money reaching Hamas. People of Gaza say the blockade has crippled their economy and undermined the development of medical facilities, weakening their ability to face a pandemic.
But with only 13 reported cases, the geographical isolation of Gaza may also have helped stem the entry of the new Coronavirus.
Hamas says health conditions make a full lockdown unnecessary in Gaza, but it has closed schools, mosques and wedding halls and banned large street gatherings.
However, public markets remained busy this week amid increasing criticism. “We will stay home (to avoid coronavirus) when they give us money, food, aid and diapers, our children want to eat,” greengrocer Ahmed Al-Nahal said in the Beach Camp market.
On the other hand, President Abbas ordered tight restrictions that left some West Bank towns nearly deserted except for shoppers going to groceries and pharmacies.
Some flouted the lockdown, prompting security forces to seize their cars, and to intervene last week after hundreds of government employees gathered outside banks to draw salaries.
Palestinian laborers also angered the authorities after reports that they had become infected in Israel then sneaked back into the West Bank, bypassing Israel’s military barriers and Palestinian health officials.
“There are health measures that must be heeded to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.” said Ghassan Nimer, a Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman.
