By Tendai Chisiri
HARARE — The State of Palestine has strongly condemned what it described as “ongoing Israeli war crimes” in the Gaza Strip, citing attacks on healthcare facilities and a 24-hour death toll of at least 19 civilians, including women and children.
In a statement issued by Ambassador Tamer Almassri, Palestine denounced the targeting of medical infrastructure as a “flagrant violation of international law, international humanitarian law, and the ceasefire.”
According to the statement, Israeli attacks killed at least 18 Palestinians in Gaza over a single 24-hour period, reflecting what it called “a dangerous escalation throughout the territory.”
Attacks on Medical Infrastructure
The statement said Israeli forces targeted medicine warehouses attached to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, destroying essential medical supplies.
“By destroying these critical resources, the occupation has effectively turned medicine and illness itself into a weapon of war,” the statement read.
It added that thousands of Palestinians requiring emergency medical treatment outside Gaza continue to be denied permission to leave.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The statement warned that civilians in Gaza are facing “systematic deprivation of the basic means of survival” due to the ongoing blockade and severe restrictions on the entry of food, water, and medicine.
It cited figures indicating that 1.4 million Palestinians face acute food insecurity, while 74,000 children require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition.
Death Toll Since October 2023
Since October 2023, the cumulative death toll in Gaza has reached at least 73,375 Palestinians, according to the statement. It noted that the figure remains incomplete as “thousands of victims remain trapped under the rubble,” inaccessible to rescue crews due to bombardment and lack of equipment.
At least 174,162 others have been injured.
Call for International Action
The State of Palestine called on the international community to “assume its legal and moral responsibilities” and exert “immediate and decisive pressure” on Israel to fulfil obligations under international law and adhere to ceasefire agreements.
“Failure to act immediately would not only encourage further colonist violence and accelerate Israel’s annexation of occupied Palestinian territory but would also undermine the credibility of the international legal system,” the statement said.
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