By Lloyd Rabaya
Israel is continuing with the denial of essential aid to the Gaza Strip, subjecting the population to starvation, bombing and displacement Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Tamer Almassri has said.
In a statement, Almassri highlighted that for the past two months, Israel’s highest court has been endorsing the blockade and rejecting multiple appeals to allow aid into Gaza.
“This appalling policy has led to a staggering 527 percent increase in prices, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and pushing the already vulnerable population to the brink of a catastrophe,” he said.
Almassri denounced the closure of crossings into the region, preventing access to essentials like food, water, medical supplies, and fuel into the Gaza Strip.
He said it is,” a blatant example of systematic campaign of starvation, a weapon of war and collective punishment, targeting all aspects of life in Gaza.
The killing of aid workers and the ban on UNRWAs operations in Gaza and the West Bank are stark reminders of Israel’s intention to commit a silent genocide, ” he added.
Almassri reiterated that the denial of aid is a deliberate act of collective punishment meant to break the spirit and will of the Palestinian people.
He also demanded the unconditional permanent opening of the crossings to allow free flow of goods, aid, and humanitarian assistance into Gaza and rejected the aid distribution systems proposed by Israel, which he said are designed to further strengthen Israel’s occupation and control.
Almassri added that the act of starvation as a weapon of war is a flagrant violation of human rights, international humanitarian law, and the principle of humanity.
“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,” he added.
