A campaign to inoculate children in Gaza against polio and prevent the spread of the virus has begun as Palestinians in the Hamas-governed coastal territory and the occupied West Bank reel from Israel’s campaigns in both regions.

Children in Gaza began receiving vaccines on Saturday, the Strip’s health ministry announced at a news conference, a day before the large-scale rollout and planned pause in fighting agreed to by Israel and the UN World Health Organisation (WHO).

Associated Press reporters saw roughly 10 infants receiving doses of vaccine in the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis on Saturday afternoon.

Hours earlier, Gaza’s health ministry said hospitals had 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.