Staff Writer
The Palestine Ambassador in Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri has strongly condemned and denounced what he called ‘the ongoing Israeli war crimes’ in the Gaza Strip, particularly the targeting of healthcare facilities and medical infrastructure which resulted in 19 civilian martyrs in the past 24 hours.
Ambassador Almassri said women and children, who constitute a flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the ceasefire were targeted.
Said Ambassador Almassri in a statement:
“In a persistent pattern of systemic aggression, Israeli attacks killed at least 18 Palestinians in Gaza over a single 24-hour period, reflecting a dangerous escalation throughout the territory.
Israeli forces also targeted medicine warehouses attached to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, destroying essential medical supplies.
” By destroying these critical resources, the occupation has effectively turned medicine and illness itself into a weapon of war. Furthermore, thousands of Palestinians requiring emergency medical treatment outside Gaza continue to be denied permission to leave.”
Ambassador Almassri said civilians in Gaza are facing a catastrophic situation.
“Civilians in Gaza are no longer facing a temporary food shortage; they are enduring a systematic deprivation of the basic means of survival due to the continuous blockade and severe restrictions on the entry of food, water, and medicine.1.4 million Palestinians face acute food insecurity while 74,000 children require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition.
“Since October 2023, the cumulative death toll in the Gaza Strip has reached at least 73,375 Palestinians. This figure remains incomplete, as thousands of victims remain trapped under the rubble, inaccessible to ambulance and rescue crews due to constant bombardment and lack of equipment. At least 174,162 others have also been injured.”
Ambassador Almassri urged the international community to push pressure on the Israeli government to adhere to the international law.
“The State of Palestine urgently calls upon the international community to assume its legal and moral responsibilities. Immediate and decisive pressure must be exerted on Israel to fulfil its obligations under international law and adhere to ceasefire agreements to ensure the protection of Palestinian civilians and enable the rebuilding of Gaza.
“Failure to act immediately would not only encourage further colonist violence and accelerate Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian territory but would also undermine the credibility of the international legal system,” he said.