By Edward Makuzva
The government of Palestine has accused Israel of deliberately using starvation as a weapon of war against civilians in the Gaza Strip, amid a worsening humanitarian crisis caused by a two-month-long total blockade.
In a statement released Tuesday, the Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Tamer Almassri, condemned Israel’s ongoing siege, which has cut off the entry of food, water, fuel, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid to the enclave.
Ambassador Almassri added that the blockade, upheld by Israel’s Supreme Court, has contributed to a 527% spike in prices, leaving most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents unable to access basic necessities.
“The closure of crossings and the prevention of the entry of food, water, medicine, medical supplies, and fuel into the Gaza Strip is a blatant example of systematic campaign of starvation, a weapon of war and collective punishment, targeting all aspects of life in the region. The killing of aid workers and the ban on UNRWA’s operations in Gaza and the West Bank are stark reminders of Israel’s intention to commit a silent genocide”, Ambassador Almassri explained.
The Ambassador of Palestine condemns this heinous policy, emphasizing that the denial of aid is a deliberate act of collective punishment, designed to break the spirit and will of the Palestinian people. The international community cannot remain silent in the face of such atrocities, and it is imperative that we take immediate action to address this crisis.
” The State of Palestine demands that all crossings be opened permanently and without restrictions, allowing the free flow of goods, aid, and humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip and reject the aid distribution mechanisms proposed by Israel, which are designed to further entrench their occupation and control over the Palestinian people.
“Denying aid to the Palestinian people is a deliberate act of starvation, used as a weapon to punish and subjugate an entire population. This is a flagrant violation of human rights, international humanitarian law, and the principles of humanity”, said Ambassador Almassri.
The international community must take immediate action to hold Israel accountable for its actions and to ensure that the Palestinian people have access to the basic necessities of life, including food, water, and medical care.
The Ambassador reaveled that unless urgent action is taken by the international community, the crisis could spiral into what he called a “silent genocide.”
International law experts and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned that the use of starvation as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and could result in individual criminal liability under international law.
Despite widespread calls for a ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian access, there has been little progress toward ending the blockade. The United Nations and several rights groups have expressed alarm at the rapidly deteriorating conditions, but enforcement of international humanitarian law remains limited.