Tinaye Agere
Ivan Zhakata
Online Correspondent
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri, has accused the Israeli government of deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war.
In a statement. Ambassador Almassri described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a silent genocide, following months of systematic deprivation and collective punishment.
“For over two months, Gaza has been under total siege,” he said.
“Israel has not only bombed our people and displaced them, it has also denied them food, water, fuel, and medicine. This is starvation used as a weapon to break our spirit and subjugate an entire population.”
The Ambassador’s remarks come amid growing international concern over the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Aid agencies report skyrocketing prices, up by more than 500 percent in some areas, while hundreds of thousands are left without access to basic necessities.
Ambassador Almassri said Israel’s highest court recently upheld the blockade and dismissed multiple appeals to allow the flow of life-saving aid into the besieged enclave.
“This is not a security measure. It is collective punishment on a mass scale, and it violates every principle of humanity and international law,” he said.
Human rights organisations and UN officials have raised alarms over the situation, particularly after several aid workers were killed in Israeli strikes and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was barred from operating in Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
Ambassador Almassri has called for the immediate and unconditional opening of all border crossings into Gaza.
“The international community must not turn a blind eye. We demand immediate access to aid for our people and full accountability for these war crimes under international law,” he said.
“The world cannot remain silent. Every hour of inaction is another hour of human suffering. We must act, now.”
Online Reporter