Dr Tamer Almassri
By Wallace Mawire
The State of Palestine Embassy in Zimbabwe has strongly condemned the recent Israeli attack on Gaza that resulted in the tragic killing of nine children of respected paediatrician Dr. Alaa al-Najjar at the Nasser Medical Complex. Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri said the heinous act is a stark reminder of Israel’s blatant disregard for international law and its continued perpetration of war crimes against the innocent people of Gaza.
Dr Almassri said Dr. Alaa al-Najjar, a dedicated medical professional, was forced to leave her children behind to attend to her duties at the hospital, only to receive the devastating news of their tragic demise. The Ambassador said the heart-wrenching incident is a testament to the unimaginable suffering of the people of Gaza, who are constantly living under the threat of Israeli aggression.
He said the deliberate targeting of medical personnel, civilians, and their families is a cruel and inhumane tactic employed by Israel to break the will of the Palestinian people. He added that the bombing of schools, hospitals, and other civilian infrastructure is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime of grave proportions.
At least 1,400 healthcare workers are reported to have now been killed in Gaza during Israel’s 19-month war. Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and surgeons have been bombed in hospitals, buried under rubble, or deliberately targeted in clearly marked ambulances. .
It is reported that another massacre occurred at dawn today of at least 36 people at a school sheltering displaced civilians in the Gaza Strip and is a grim reminder of Israel’s complete disregard for human life. The Embassy said the targeting of medical facilities, schools, and other civilian infrastructure has become a weapon of choice for Israel, used to slaughter innocent civilians and perpetuate a cycle of violence and fear.
According to the Ambassador, the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza has resulted in the martyrdom of at least 53,939 people, with nearly 122,000 reported injured. He said that the emergency response teams are facing severe challenges in accessing bombed areas, due to the ongoing bombardment, which has further exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Ambassador Almassri has called upon the international community to take immediate action to stop Israel’s genocidal war against the people of Gaza. He said the silence and inaction of the international community in the face of such atrocities is a clear enabling of Israel’s aggression and a betrayal of the principles of international law and human rights.