malvernmugadzikwa
Sunday Mail Reporter
PALESTINE has condemned continued attacks on its citizens in the Gaza Strip by Israel and has called for an immediate stop to the ongoing siege.
In a statement yesterday, Palestine’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri said his country strongly condemns the continued aggression against its citizens, including the blockade on medicines, relief supplies and other basic necessities to the Gaza Strip.
By yesterday, at least 2 200 Palestinians, including 724 children, had been killed.
“In seven days only, Israel killed at least eight journalists in direct strikes targeting civilians and press crews. Two journalists have been missing.
“The State of Palestine wonders what Western countries and the international community want more than what they see with their own eyes of the manifestations of genocide committed by Israel against our people in the Gaza Strip in order to condemn the killing of civilians,” he said.
“UN bodies and dozens of international, humanitarian and human rights organisations have documented what our people are exposed to in the Gaza Strip, with numerous reports, positions, appeals and demands to stop this unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, describing it as a pit of hell, a humanitarian catastrophe (International Red Cross), and a war crime (Israeli human rights organisations).”
The World Health Organisation, Ambassador Almassri said, has warned of the collapse of Palestine’s medical system as Israeli war planes are targeting hospitals, ambulances and their staff.
“Twelve international humanitarian relief organisations operating in the Gaza Strip, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have noted the use of internationally banned white phosphorus in Israeli bombing, describing what our people in the Gaza Strip are exposed to as manifestations of genocide.
“The State of Palestine condemns the continual double standards of the Western countries and consider the blood and suffering of Palestinian civilians on the same basis as others.
“We stress that what is required is urgent international action to achieve an immediate cessation of the aggression, to ensure the arrival of basic needs to the Gaza Strip, including water, electricity, medical and food supplies, and to force the occupying state to abide by international law towards Palestinian civilians.”
Ambassador Almassri said Palestine will continue to lobby the international community to condemn the targeting of its civilians.
“The State of Palestine continues its political, diplomatic and legal movement to mobilise the broadest international condemnation to the targeting of Palestinian civilians and to push Western countries to stop the policy of double standards towards Palestinian civilians and the abhorrent selectivity in applying international law regarding the lives of civilians, and to exert the necessary pressure on the occupying state to force it to stop its aggression immediately.”
Online Reporter