By Tendai Chisiri
Harare — The Ambassador of the State of Palestine, H.E. Tamer Almassri, has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s “continuous and systematic violations” of ceasefire agreements in the Gaza Strip, and what he described as a deliberate escalation of operations in the occupied West Bank.
In a statement released this week, Ambassador Almassri accused Israeli occupation forces of persisting with attacks across various regions of Gaza despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure peace. He said the campaign continues to target a “defenseless civilian population.”
“Simultaneously, the occupation has aggressively intensified its operations in the occupied West Bank,” the statement read. According to the Ambassador, the escalation includes a surge in punitive home demolitions, unprecedented settlement expansion, and what he termed “state-sanctioned settler violence” against Palestinian communities.
Ambassador Almassri said the coordinated actions in both Gaza and the West Bank expose the broader intent of Israeli policy.
“These actions lay bare the reality of Israeli policy: Israel has never been interested in a genuine peace process. Instead, its primary objective remains the violent entrenchment and consolidation of its colonial occupation over the State of Palestine,” he stated.
The Ambassador highlighted the mounting human toll since the assault began in October 2023. The confirmed death toll in the Gaza Strip has now risen to 73,231, with women and children making up the majority of casualties. At least 173,686 Palestinians have also been injured, the statement said.
The State of Palestine warned that the actual figures may be much higher. Thousands of victims are believed to remain trapped beneath the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods and are inaccessible to ambulance, medical, and emergency rescue teams due to ongoing bombardment and blockades.
In response, the State of Palestine has called on the international community, human rights organizations, and the United Nations to take concrete action.
“We call on them to move beyond rhetoric, hold the occupying power accountable under international law, and enforce an immediate, unconditional, and permanent end to the genocide,” Ambassador Almassri said.
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