The Grand Mufti of Gaza has called on Palestinians to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
In a video message, Sheikh Hassan al-Lahhan says whoever delays doing so is a “sinner” and describes anyone who transmits the virus unintentionally as a “mistaken killer”.
As Gaza’s top Islamic cleric, he oversees the religious affairs ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The attempt to encourage vaccine take-up comes as Covid-19 rates start to surge again in Gaza, where the health system is crippled amid Israel’s blockade and after years of conflict.
Vaccine delivery to the occupied Palestinian territories has been painfully slow, but aid groups say misinformation and vaccine hesitancy is also hindering levels of protection.
In Gaza a little more than 120,000 people have received at least one dose – only about 5% of the Strip’s population.