Israel committing holocaust -Palestinian envoy

Harare (New Ziana) -Palestinian ambassador to Zimbabwe Tamer Almassarr said on Thursday Israel is committing a holocaust by killing defenceless women and children in the Gaza Strip.

Addressing the media at the Palestinian embassy, Almassarr called on the United States and its allies to refrain from double standards as they are aiding the atrocities.

He said to date over 4 000 innocent civilians have died in the ongoing war, with 50 percent being unarmed women and children while over 600 000 people have been displaced from their homes.

Almassarr added that at least 35 hospitals have been attacked in air strikes, a situation which has seen the country grappling to provide medical care for those critically injured.

The war in the Gaza strip, which is historical, has seen Israel’s decades-long occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause.

The latest combat escalated on October 7 when Palestinian militant group Hamas coordinated a surprise attack on Israel.

“The people of Palestine are suffering from the Israeli genocide war under the eyes of the international community. We have lost 4 200 lives with 65 percent being women and children,” said Almassarr.

“According to the Palestine Ministry of Health, every 5 minutes we have a new murder occurring. The Israeli air strikes have targeted our hospitals and in turn killed 25 doctors and their families and destroyed 24 ambulances. Their (Israeli army) excuse is that there are fighters in the hospitals but unfortunately that is not the case. Several people who have died can hardly be recognized as they are all in pieces, this is a holocaust which must be stopped,” he said.

Almassarr said the Israeli army has worsened the situation at the remaining hospitals as it has cut off electricity, water and telecommunications to the institutions.

He said the state of Palestine is a victim of double standards of the international community which gave Israel full political and military support to commit crimes.

“I want to point out that the air strike which struck the Baptist church in Gaza strip was done using an American MK 84 bomb. This is in the Wall Street Journal, an American publication for that matter.

“These types of bombs are the ones the USA used in the first invasion of Afghanistan some time ago. Just look at the International Crimes Court (ICC), they are quiet on the atrocities Israel is committing.

“Had it been an African nation doing this, we could be hearing all sorts of noise on human rights abuses and being called to the courts, but because those committing the crimes here are not with black skin, they are free to commit all the genocide they want,” he said.

The West, he said, was using its control of social media platforms to silence dissent from the Palestinians.

“Over 65 media personnel have been killed and some are missing. Just go through social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram and you will notice that several pages of people who post of our suffering and dissent are being pulled down,” he said.

Almassarr said in spite of all the setbacks that the Palestinians are facing, they are grateful for messages of solidarity that they are getting from progressive countries, with Zimbabwe among them.

“As a nation, we will also not give up, we will fight on behalf of you because we cannot allow the Israeli apartheid regime to commit or renew the apartheid definition in the 21st century.

“They are the definition of the Southern Rhodesian apartheid regime which believes in their colour, skin and blood. This is easily recognizable on how they treat African emigrants and even African Jews,” he said.

New Ziana