Polio vaccine campaign begins in Gaza a day before fighting is expected to pause

JERUSALEM (AP) — A campaign to inoculate children in Gaza against polio and prevent the spread of the virus has begun, the Health Ministry said Saturday, as Palestinians in the Hamas-governed enclave and the occupied West Bank reeled from Israel's military offensives.

Meanwhile, Israel's military late Saturday in a terse announcement said it had “located a number of bodies during combat” in Gaza. The army was trying to identify the bodies, including whether they were hostages, but said the process would take several hours. “We ask to refrain from spreading rumors,” it said. There were no further details.

A small number of children in Gaza received vaccine doses a day before the large-scale rollout and limited pauses in the fighting agreed to by Israel and the U.N. World Health Organization. Associated Press journalists saw about 10 children receiving doses at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis.

“There must be a cease-fire so that the teams can reach everyone targeted by this campaign,” said Dr. Yousef Abu Al-Rish, Gaza's deputy health minister, describing scenes of sewage running through crowded tent camps. Polio is spread through fecal matter.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office in a statement said “Israel will allow a humanitarian corridor only” and “areas will be established that will be safe for administering the vaccines for a few hours.”

Israel said the vaccination program would continue through Sept. 9 and last eight hours a day. It will allow health workers to administer vaccines with the aim of reaching some 640,000 Palestinian children.

The vaccination campaign comes after the first polio case in 25 years in Gaza was discovered this month. Doctors concluded a 10-month-old had been partially paralyzed by a mutated strain of the virus after not being vaccinated due to fighting. Most people who contract the disease do not experience symptoms, and those who do usually recover in a week or so. But there is no cure.

“I was terrified and waiting for the vaccination to arrive and for everyone to receive it,” said Amal Shaheen, whose daughter received a dose Saturday.

Healthcare workers in Gaza have warned of the potential for a polio outbreak for months. The territory's humanitarian crisis has deepened during the war that broke out after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and abducting around 250. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many were militants.

The ministry said hospitals received 89 dead on Saturday, including 26 who died in an overnight Israeli bombardment, and 205 wounded — one of the highest daily tallies in months.

Meanwhile, parts of the West Bank remained on edge as Israel's military continued its large-scale military campaign, the deadliest since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Two car bombs exploded in Gush Etzion, a bloc of Israeli settlements. Israel's military killed both attackers after the explosions in a compound in Karmei Tzur and at a gas station, Israel's military said. The military later said a soldier died Saturday during “operational activities” in Jenin, without details, and another was severely injured.

Hamas did not claim the attackers as its fighters but called it a “heroic operation." The militant group said earlier this month after a bombing in Tel Aviv it would continue such attacks.

Israel continued its large-scale raid — including destruction of infrastructure, airstrikes and gunbattles — into urban refugee camps in the cities of Jenin and Tulkarem, in the northern West Bank. Israel's incursion started Tuesday, causing alarm among the international community that the war might widen beyond Gaza.

The medical charity Doctors Without Borders in a statement said it was alarmed by the scale and intensity of Israel's incursion and asserted that Israeli forces have “obstructed access to health facilities and blocked — and even targeted — ambulances.”

Israel's military on Saturday said 23 militants had been killed since the incursion, including 14 in the Jenin area.

Some people fled Jenin. Holding a baby, Oroba al-Shalabi said Israeli gunfire had pelted her windows.

“We began screaming that we had small children, but they (the Israeli soldiers) didn’t respond at first. The more we screamed, the more they shot at the house, shattering the TV and the windows around us,” she said.

The family cowered in their kitchen until soldiers entered, she said, separating women and children from the men and searching everyone’s phones before letting her flee.

Israel has described the West Bank operation as a strategy to prevent attacks on Israeli civilians, which have increased during the war in Gaza including near settlements that the international community largely considers illegal. The Palestinian Health Ministry noted a surge in Palestinian deaths by Israeli forces, with at least 663 in the West Bank since the war began.

In central Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit a multi-story building housing displaced people in and around Nuseirat, a built-up refugee camp, in Khan Younis and in Gaza City, officials at area hospitals said. The Health Ministry announced a “repeated attack” on al-Ahli hospital in Gaza City. There were no immediate details, and the Israeli military didn’t comment.

The United States, Qatar and Egypt have spent months trying to mediate a cease-fire that would see the remaining hostages released. But the talks have repeatedly bogged down as Netanyahu has vowed “total victory” over Hamas and the militant group has demanded a lasting cease-fire and the full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory.

Israelis gathered again Saturday night to rally against the government and urge a deal to bring remaining hostages home.

“Why are they still in Gaza?” the crowd chanted.

Magdy reported from Cairo and Metz from Rabat, Morocco. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Palestinian children wait to receive a polio vaccination at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

People protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and call for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Activists and relatives of hostages held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip call for their immediate release and to protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Demonstrators lie on the ground in white plastic bags simulating dead bodies, take part in a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

A Palestinian child waits to receive a polio vaccination at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinian children wait to receive a polio vaccination at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

A health worker administers a polio vaccine to a child at a hospital in Khan Younis, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israeli bulldozers move on a street during a military operation in the West Bank city of Jenin, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Israeli armoured vehicles move during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Member of the Israeli forces take position next to the armoured vehicles during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Smoke rises after an explosion during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians stand in line next to Israeli armoured vehicles during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Members of the Israeli forces check Palestinians leaving the West Bank Jenin refugee camp during a military operation, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians walk down a street as they leave the West Bank Jenin refugee camp during an Israeli military operation, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

An Israeli soldier stands guard the near the scene of a car that exploded in the West Bank settlement of Karme Tsur, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Israeli armoured vehicles move during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Smoke rises after an explosion during an Israeli military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Israeli armoured vehicles move during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Israeli armoured vehicles move during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Member of the Israeli forces take position next to the armoured vehicles during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians walk down a street as they leave the West Bank Jenin refugee camp during an Israeli military operation, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

Palestinians stand in line next to Israeli armoured vehicles during a military operation in the West Bank Jenin refugee camp, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. drove in his 100th run of the season with a solo homer in the first inning, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 on Saturday.

Witt also hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth and a run-scoring double in the sixth. He went 2 for 3 to raise his MLB-leading batting average to .333. He also has 31 homers and 102 RBIs.

Michael Wacha (13-7) gave up one run in five innings to improve to 9-1 with a 2.68 ERA in 13 starts since the beginning of July. He allowed four hits, walked three and struck out eight.

The Royals won for the seventh time in nine games since a seven-game losing streak as they try to reach the postseason for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015. The Royals also assured themselves of their first winning season since 2015 by raising their record to 82-67.

Kansas City entered the day with a 2½-game lead over Minnesota for the second AL wild card. The Royals trailed first-place Cleveland by three games in the AL Central.

The Royals had five stolen bases, three by Maikol Garcia and two by Kyle Isbel.

Mitch Keller (11-10) lost for the fifth time in his last six decisions, allowing four runs — three earned — and four hits with six strikeouts and one walk. The Pirates made three errors behind Keller.

After Witt staked the Royals to the early 1-0 lead, the Royals scored twice in the fifth. Adam Frazier tripled past diving center field Oneil Cruz and scored on Garcia’s double before Witt hit a sacrifice fly.

The Pirates scored their lone run in the fifth on an RBI single by Cruz. They are 14-24 since Aug. 4.

Kansas City’s Michael Massey doubled and scored on third baseman Jared Triolo’s error in the fifth. Witt’s RBI double in the sixth made it 5-1.

Bryan Reynolds and Triolo each had two hits for the Pirates.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Chris Stratton (right forearm flexor strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list and LHP Angel Zerpa was recalled from Triple-A Omaha.

UP NEXT

The series concludes Sunday with Royals RHP Brady Singer (9-10, 3.42 ERA) facing rookie RHP Jared Jones (6-7, 3.82 ERA). Singer is 1-4 with a 5.17 ERA in his last seven starts.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Kansas City Royals' Kyle Isbel (28) scores around Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Yasmani Grandal on a error by centerfielder Oneil Cruz on a ball hit by Bobby Witt Jr. during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Joey Bart fouls off a pitch from Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Kris Bubic while breaking his bat during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Oneil Cruz collects himself after diving for and failing to catch a triple hit by Kansas City Royals' Adam Frazier during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) hits a sacrifice fly off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller, scoring Maikel Garcia from third, during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (7) rounds third to greetings from third base coach Vance Wilson (25) after hitting a solo home run off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller during the first inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)