Edward Makuzva
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Tamer Almassri, unequivocally condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous and barbaric ambush of Palestinian civilians at a humanitarian aid distribution site in Rafah.
This brutal assault, which resulted in the cold-blooded killing of over 50 innocent individuals — including women, children, and the elderly — represents yet another grave violation of international humanitarian law and the most basic principles of human decency.
Palestinians, following instructions to proceed to this designated aid distribution point to receive desperately needed food, were instead met with live ammunition and shrapnel from Israeli occupation forces. This constitutes a mass atrocity and a blatant disregard for human life.
Ambassador Almassri expressed profound outrage and heartbreak over the deliberate targeting of civilians who had gathered in desperate hope for food, medicine, and essential supplies amid the dire humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza. He described the attack as not merely a military crime but a moral outrage that shocks the conscience of humanity.
“This horrific incident reveals a new and barbaric Israeli technique: ambushing Palestinians at aid distribution centers with the deliberate intent to maximize casualties. Such calculated acts of violence against a population already facing starvation and displacement are unconscionable and amount to war crimes,” Ambassador Almassri explained.
Ambassador Tamer Almassri reiterates, with profound conviction, that Israel has no true friends, for if it possessed any genuine allies, they would be actively preventing it from committing such horrific crimes — as justice, though it may be delayed, will inevitably prevail.
Ambassador Almassri added that the State of Palestine calls upon the international community to immediately and decisively intervene to halt these systematic massacres. The deliberate targeting of civilians seeking aid, coupled with the ongoing denial of life-saving supplies, is a grave violation of international law and a stain on humanity’s conscience. The world must act now to ensure accountability and protect the Palestinian people.
The escalating death toll in the Gaza Strip is a testament to the relentless brutality of the Israeli military offensive. Since October 2023, the number of Palestinians killed has tragically climbed to 54,418, with the overwhelming majority being women and children. The wounded now number 124,190, and thousands more remain trapped under rubble, with rescue efforts severely hampered by the continuous bombardment.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Almassri reaffirmed the unwavering determination of the State of Palestine to pursue all diplomatic, legal, and political avenues to protect its people, achieve accountability, and secure the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid.
He also appealed to all peace-loving nations and civil society actors worldwide to raise their voices, demand an immediate end to the bloodshed, and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle for dignity, freedom, and justice.