Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE State of Palestine has condemned more than 178 attacks by Israeli settlers and occupation forces in the occupied West Bank over 48 hours.
In a statement yesterday, Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri said the attacks occurred on Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday, with several Palestinian villages reportedly affected.
He said the incidents involved Israeli military incursions, house raids, arrests, live fire and tear gas, while settlers allegedly attacked Palestinian homes and mosques, torched vehicles, assaulted civilians, blocked ambulances and closed major roads.
Ambassador Almassri said the attacks were being carried out under the protection of Israeli occupation forces and described the developments as an escalation of what he termed systematic settler violence across the occupied West Bank.
“These crimes are not isolated incidents, but are part of an official and systematic Israeli policy based on providing political and military support, as well as protection, to Israeli settler terrorists,” he said.
The Ambassador accused the Israeli authorities of pursuing policies aimed at displacing Palestinians and advancing plans for annexation and what he described as ethnic cleansing.
He called on the international community to take urgent measures, including issuing clear statements condemning the attacks, supporting independent international investigations and holding those responsible accountable.
Ambassador Almassri also called for sanctions against Israeli officials and the Israeli colonial system.
He said the continued lack of accountability was encouraging further violence and called on the international community to take practical steps to protect Palestinian civilians.
“The Palestinian people can no longer tolerate the continuation of a policy of impunity,” Ambassador Almassri said.
He urged the international community to uphold its legal and moral obligations, end the occupation and compel Israel to comply with international law and relevant international resolutions.
