Dr Tamer Almassri Palestinian Envoy to Harare
By George Swarei
Gaza Strip – In blatant defiance of international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions, two massacres were committed against Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours. At least 23 Palestinians were killed in bombings carried out by Israeli occupation aircraft and artillery on several sites, primarily in Khan Yunis in the south and the Shujaiya neighborhood and Nuseirat camp in central Gaza.
The attacks coincide with mass evacuations ordered by the Israeli army, forcing hundreds of Palestinian patients to flee the European Hospital and tent camps for the displaced in Khan Yunis. As Israeli tanks advance and fierce fighting ensues, Palestinian civilians are trapped in Rafah, in southern Gaza, and Shujayea in northern Gaza City.
Ambassador Dr. Tamer Almassri, the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe, condemned the mass evacuations as “death sentences,” highlighting the lack of safe havens in Gaza. “No place is safe in Gaza as Palestinians endure yet another deadly cycle of displacement,” he stated.
The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. With a population of 2.3 million, most have fled their homes multiple times. Israeli restrictions and ongoing conflict have severely hindered the delivery of humanitarian aid, leading to widespread hunger and fears of famine.
Dr. Almassri has also called for Israel to be banned from FIFA. Since October 2023, over 231 footballers, including 66 children from the football academy, have been killed. Gaza’s football infrastructure has been severely damaged or destroyed, decimating the Palestinian sport and football scene.
The Israeli occupation forces’ aggression against Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 37,900 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children, and more than 87,060 injuries. The death toll is expected to rise as thousands remain buried under rubble.