By George Swarei
Harare, Zimbabwe – December 30, 2024
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Zimbabwe, Dr. Tamer Almassri, has condemned the Israeli occupation’s assault on Gaza’s healthcare system following the burning of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza. The attack, which also involved the arrest, stripping, and torture of the hospital director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiyya, along with 350 staff members and patients, left at least five healthcare workers dead and destroyed ambulances critical to emergency response.
“This brutal act violates the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, constitutes a blatant assault on human rights, and represents an unjustified attack on medical institutions providing essential humanitarian services to civilians,” Dr. Almassri stated.
The State of Palestine has demanded the immediate release of the detained medical personnel, denouncing the targeting of hospitals as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. The ambassador emphasized that the attack on Kamal Adwan Hospital is part of a broader systematic assault on Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.
Over the past year, Israeli forces have reportedly detained more than 600 healthcare workers and killed approximately 1,060 others, with some allegedly tortured in custody. Hundreds more have sustained injuries, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and undermining Gaza’s healthcare system.
“The international community’s silence has emboldened the occupying state to continue its ethnic cleansing and massacres,” Dr. Almassri said. He called for urgent action by the United Nations Security Council and the global community to enforce accountability and halt the violations of international law.
The State of Palestine reiterated its call for an end to the aggression against Gaza, highlighting the broader threat such actions pose to regional and international peace and security. The targeting of protected medical facilities, the ambassador said, reflects a disregard for international humanitarian law and underscores the need for decisive international intervention.
As the conflict escalates, the humanitarian toll continues to mount, with Gaza’s health system on the brink of collapse, jeopardizing the lives of countless civilians reliant on essential services.