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Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri has condemned Israel’s latest airstrikes on Gaza, calling them a “genocidal offensive” that flagrantly violates international law.
His remarks come after an Israeli F-16 bombing of a makeshift tent camp in Gaza’s al-Mawasi, a so-called “safe zone,” leaving at least 21 dead and over 80 injured, most of them women and children.
“The deliberate targeting of civilians sheltering in tents is a blatant war crime, enabled by complicity from colonial governments supplying these fighter jets,” Ambassador Almassri said.
“Entire families have been incinerated in these strikes, igniting large fires that consumed everything in their path.”
He further accused Israel of intensifying its campaign of ethnic cleansing, particularly in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza, where residents fleeing their homes were reportedly attacked.
“These crimes are a flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention on the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War,” Ambassador Almassri said.
“Israel continues its genocidal offensive in Gaza with complete disregard for international law, including a legally binding International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling ordering a halt to its military operations in Rafah.
“Since October 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has martyred at least 44 532 Palestinians and injured 105 538 others. Over 10 000 people remain unaccounted for, presumed dead beneath the rubble of their homes.”
Ambassador Almassri urged the international community to act decisively.
“The world must assume its moral and legal responsibilities. The occupying state must be compelled to cease its aggression, adhere to international law, and face accountability for its crimes against humanity,” he said.
The airstrikes on Gaza have drawn widespread condemnation globally, with human rights organisations calling for immediate humanitarian access and protection for civilians.
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