Human rights groups are calling on Israel to urgently lift its blockade of occupied Gaza and the West Bank to allow the flow of medical supplies, equipment and medical personnel needed to stem the spread of the coronavirus and to treat COVID-19 patients. This comes as Palestinian health officials say Gaza has run out of coronavirus test kits and are pleading with international organizations for more ventilators and beds for intensive care units.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has gifted 1 million surgical masks to the Israel Defense Forces, as soldiers remain on patrol in occupied Palestinian territories during the outbreak.

The Israeli government has ordered Palestinians who hold permits to work in Israel to download a smartphone app giving Israel’s military access to personal and GPS location data — and even to cameras.