Coronavirus: Hamas leader 'in good health' after Covid-19 infection

Cases in the Palestinian enclave surge, pushing fragile health system to the limits

Gaza's Hamas Chief Yehya Al Sinwar talks to media before meeting with Chairman of the Palestinian Central Election Committee Hana Naser in Gaza on October 28, 2019. REUTERS, File Photo

Hamas's leader in Gaza, Yehya Al Sinwar, tested positive for Covid-19, a spokesman for the militant group that runs the Palestinian territory said on Tuesday.

Mr Al Sinwar, 58, is "following the advice of health authorities and taking precautionary measures", spokesman Hazem Qassem said. He did not say if the Hamas chief was in quarantine.

"He is in good health and he is pursuing his duties as usual," Mr Qassem said.

Mr Al Sinwar, a former head of Hamas's security apparatus, became the movement's Gaza leader in 2017, six years after he was freed in a prisoner swap with Israel after more than 20 years in jail.

Gaza has logged nearly 21,000 coronavirus cases and 111 deaths, mostly since August, amid concern of a wider outbreak in the densely populated enclave of two million people.

Coronavirus around the Middle East today - in pictures 

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  People sit at a restaurant that has reopened, as the coronavirus disease restrictions are eased, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

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  People wearing face masks walk past a shop after its reopening, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are eased, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

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  Men sit at an Illy Caffe inside a shopping mall that has reopened, as the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) restrictions are eased, in Beirut, Lebanon. Reuters

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  Medical workers arrive at the Mustapha Pacha hospital in Algiers. The Algerian government has decided on Monday to extend for an additional period of 15 days the partial lockdown measure in 34 provinces as from Dec. 2, said a statement from the Prime Minister's services. The extension is part of measures to manage and curb the health crisis caused by the COVID-19. AP

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  A man wearing a face mask feeds pigeons in Algiers. The Algerian government has decided on Monday to extend for an additional period of 15 days the partial lockdown measure in 34 provinces as from Dec. 2, said a statement from the Prime Minister's services. The extension is part of measures to manage and curb the health crisis caused by the COVID-19. AP

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  Members of the clinical staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) care for a patient with coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the European Hospital, east of Rafah town, southern Gaza strip. The European Hospital, which has been classified as the Epidemiology Hospital since the start of the coronavirus in the Gaza Strip on 25 August 2020, has 334 infected cases under clinical care including 109 severe and critical cases. The production capacity of oxygen is 2,200 liters per minute, and there has become a large deficit after the increasing number of infections with Coronavirus. EPA

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  Members of the clinical staff wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) care for a patient with coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the European Hospital, east of Rafah town, southern Gaza strip. The European Hospital, which has been classified as the Epidemiology Hospital since the start of the coronavirus in the Gaza Strip on 25 August 2020, has 334 infected cases under clinical care including 109 severe and critical cases. The production capacity of oxygen is 2,200 liters per minute, and there has become a large deficit after the increasing number of infections with Coronavirus. EPA

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  People wearing masks to help protect against the spread of coronavirus, walk, in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced Monday the most widespread lockdown so far amid a surge in COVID-19 infections, extending curfews to weeknights and full lockdowns over weekends. AP

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  A man wearing face mask and carries his stuff as he arrive to the Asia side with ferry from Europe, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in Istanbul, Turkey. Turkey will impose curfews on weekdays and full lockdowns over weekends to combat the spread of the coronavirus, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday, after new cases and deaths hit records highs in recent weeks. EPA

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  An employee at disinfects a table before welcoming customers in Dubai, Chris Whiteoak / The National

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  Visitors to Reform Athletica yoga studio perform their exercises with Covid mask on, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The World Health Organisation this week delivered 15 ventilators to Gaza hospitals to help treat the most sick patients with Covid-19 as a surge in infections tests the Palestinian territory's underdeveloped health system.

The donation of the intensive care devices, funded by Kuwait, came a week after local and international public health advisers said hospitals in the enclave could soon be overwhelmed.

"These devices will help medical teams provide better service to patients, but it is not enough," said Abdullatif Alhaj, of Gaza's health ministry.

Mr Alhaj said hospitals had suffered acute shortages of oxygen, which is essential in the treatment of Covid-19 patients.

The Gazan Health Ministry said more than half of the territory's 150 ventilators are in use.

"The health system right now can hold on for a few weeks after the expansion of beds," said Abdelnaser Soboh, emergency health lead in the WHO's Gaza sub-office.

Mr Soboh said Gaza is also experiencing severe shortages of medications and disposable equipment needed to treat Covid-19 patients.

Palestinians in Hamas-run Gaza say 13 years of economic sanctions by Israel and its border blockade have crippled their economy and undermined the development of medical facilities, weakening their ability to tackle the pandemic.

Israel, which cites security concerns for the border restrictions it imposes, along with neighbouring Egypt, says it has not limited the transfer of medical supplies to Gaza to fight the pandemic.