Ambassador of the state of Palestine to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri
By George Swarei
GAZA CITY, June 13, 2024— The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated with reports that Palestinian children are dying from starvation-related complications. The situation has deteriorated since the Israeli occupation government began using starvation as a weapon of war, which is classified as a war crime under international law.
The death toll from the Israeli military actions in the blockaded Gaza Strip has reached 37,202, with a significant number of deaths attributed to malnutrition and epidemic diseases. Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr. Tamer Almassri has called on the international community to pressure Israel to cease these actions, end the suffering of the Palestinian people, and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza. “The Gaza Strip is turning into a disaster area, with infectious diseases and epidemics spreading in a catastrophic and unprecedented manner,” said Almassri.
Approximately 60,000 pregnant women in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition, dehydration, and inadequate healthcare. This dire situation is endangering both mothers and their unborn children, increasing the risks of miscarriages, fetal deaths, compromised immune systems, growth impacts, and maternal mortality.
The Israeli government’s actions have compounded the crisis by contributing to the near-total collapse of Gaza’s healthcare system. Currently, only one of Gaza’s 36 hospitals is partially operational, primarily due to repeated attacks on medical facilities, personnel, and transport by the Israeli military, as well as severe restrictions on the entry of fuel and medical supplies.
In response to these actions, Dr. Almassri has urged the International Criminal Court to issue arrest warrants against Israeli officials responsible for these war crimes. He also called on the United Nations Security Council to implement a ceasefire resolution to halt the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Almassri emphasized the immediate need for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the lifting of Israel’s stringent siege, which he described as a form of collective punishment and a war crime. He stressed that the international community must act to protect civilians in Gaza under international humanitarian law.
As the crisis deepens, the call for international intervention grows louder. The ongoing siege and the use of starvation as a weapon of war highlight the urgent need for a resolution to protect the lives and health of Gaza’s population.
