By Edward Makuzva
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Zimbabwe expresses its profound outrage and sorrow following the horrific killing of three Palestinian journalists in Gaza.
Helmi Al-Faqaawi and Yousef al-Khazinda were murdered in cold blood, while journalist Ahmed Mansour was burnt alive when an Israeli missile struck a tent used by journalists near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. This targeted attack is part of a growing campaign against the press, with over 210 journalists killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Ambassador Tamer Almassri strongly condemns what he describes as the deliberate and systematic targeting of Palestinian journalists. He called the strike an unmistakable attempt to silence the truth, enforce a total media blackout, and prevent the international community from witnessing the scale of devastation and suffering inflicted on the Palestinian people.
“This is not just an attack on individuals,” Ambassador Almassri stated. “It is an attack on truth, on the voice of the oppressed, and on every principle of justice and humanity. The international community’s deafening silence has become complicity, emboldening Israel to continue its atrocities with total impunity”, Ambassador Almassri explained.
The Ambassador emphasized that the Israeli occupation persists in committing heinous crimes in Gaza without any consequence, empowered by global inaction and failure to uphold international law. Repeated appeals for urgent intervention and protection have gone unanswered.
He noted that international laws and conventions designed to safeguard human rights have been rendered hollow in the face of Israel’s relentless aggression. In Gaza, the most basic rights—life, education, healthcare—have been stripped away. Palestinians endure indiscriminate bombings, the use of banned chemical weapons, and unimaginable suffering under a brutal military machine.
“International laws and agreements designed to protect human rights have become meaningless in the face of ongoing crimes and violations committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The right to life, education, health, and other fundamental rights have been stripped away from Palestinians, who are subjected to Israeli brutal killing machines, use of banned chemical weapons, and unimaginable suffering”, said ambassador Almassri.
Ambassador Almassri issued an urgent call to the world: “The time for silence is over. We urge all nations, leaders, and human rights organizations to take immediate, concrete action. Justice cannot be delayed any longer. The killing must stop”, he added.
In his closing remarks, the Ambassador reaffirmed the unshakable will of the Palestinian people. Despite unimaginable loss and suffering, they will not surrender.
“Palestinians will remain steadfast in their legitimate struggle for freedom, dignity, and self-determination. We will never raise the white flag in the face of apartheid and genocide”, said ambassador Almassri.