Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri, has warned about what he describes as an intensifying Israeli military campaign aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians and annexing parts of the northern West Bank.
In a statement, Ambassador Almassri condemned Israel’s ongoing military operations in cities such as Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas and Al-Far’a, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes.
He described the destruction of homes, villages and infrastructure as part of a wider plan to isolate Palestinian communities.
“The brutality of the Israeli occupation forces has displaced 40 000 civilians, leaving behind a trail of destruction,” Ambassador Almassri said.
“This is not just an attack on Palestinian land. It is a blatant attempt at annexation and racist expansion, aimed at fragmenting Palestinian areas and making life unlivable for our people.”
The Ambassador also raised concerns over statements made by former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who, according to reports, has ordered that displaced Palestinians not be allowed to return to their homes.
“This is a clear indication that Israel is pursuing a deliberate policy of ethnic cleansing and long-term occupation.
“It is an undeniable violation of human rights and international law.”
The Palestinian envoy warned that these developments in the West Bank were directly linked to the escalating situation in Gaza, where renewed conflict looms amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and military operations.
“We are witnessing an all-out assault on Palestinian existence, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.
“The international community must recognise that failure to act will only deepen the crisis and plunge the region into further chaos and war,” he said.
Ambassador Almassri urged the United Nations, African Union and international partners to intervene decisively and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a halt to Israeli military operations in the West Bank.
“This is a moment of truth for the world. If the international community remains silent, it is complicit in the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he said.
The situation in the occupied Palestinian territories continues to deteriorate, with human rights organisations and international bodies increasingly raising alarms over the humanitarian crisis.
However, despite widespread condemnation, diplomatic efforts to curb the violence have so far failed to yield tangible results.
As tensions mount, the Palestinian leadership insists that only firm international action can prevent further bloodshed and protect the rights of Palestinian civilians.
