Palestine declares new state of emergency to combat Covid-19

The state of emergency has been extended for another 30 days to combat the pandemic.
1 min read
03 July, 2021
The state of emergency was extended [Getty]

Palestine has re-instated the state of emergency to combat the Covid-19 pandemic for the next month.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made the declaration on Saturday afternoon as coronavirus cases continue to rise, according to official news agency Wafa.

The state of emergency was first declared in March last year after the discovery of the first cases of coronavirus in the Palestinian territories and was extended or re-instated every 30 days since.

Palestinian law allows a one-time extension of the state of emergency, and if it has to be extended for a longer time, a new declaration must be issued.

The state of emergency gives the government the power to act in any way it deems necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic.