Harare, (New Ziana) – The State of Palestine has raised alarm over what it describes as an escalating humanitarian catastrophe in the occupied Palestinian territories, revealing that the death toll from Israel’s military assault on the Gaza Strip has climbed to more than 71,000, despite the existence of a ceasefire agreement meant to halt the violence.
In a statement issued on Monday, Palestine’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Tamer Almassri, said the situation in Gaza and the West Bank continues to deteriorate at an “unprecedented and deeply distressing” scale.
According to the statement, at least 71,412 Palestinians have been killed and 171,314 injured since October 2023 as a result of what Palestine terms Israel’s “relentless aggression” on Gaza.
Although a ceasefire formally came into effect on October 11, 2025, Ambassador Almassri said Israeli forces have continued to violate the agreement with deadly consequences.
“Since the ceasefire came into force, 442 Palestinians have been killed and 1,236 injured due to continued Israeli attacks,” he said, describing the violations as “flagrant and systematic.”
“The Israeli occupation has shown blatant disregard for the ceasefire agreement,” Ambassador Almassri said. “These violations not only undermine efforts to protect civilian lives but also destroy any remaining prospects for peace.”
Beyond Gaza, the Ambassador warned of a worsening situation in the occupied West Bank, where he said settlement expansion and settler violence have intensified under the protection of Israeli authorities. He cited a sharp rise in what he described as settler terrorism, which has forced Palestinian communities from their ancestral lands.
One of the most recent incidents occurred in Ras al-Auja, where more than 50 Palestinian families were compelled to flee after decades of residence due to sustained intimidation and attacks.
“Settler militias are operating with total impunity,” Almassri said. “They are cutting electricity, attacking homes, and terrorizing entire communities, while the occupying forces stand by or actively facilitate these crimes.”
He described the campaign as a deliberate strategy aimed at erasing Palestinian presence and identity in the West Bank.
The State of Palestine has called on the international community to urgently intervene, demanding an immediate end to all Israeli settlement activities, a halt to settler violence, and the release of Palestinian funds withheld by Israel.
“The world must recognize the gravity of what is unfolding,” Ambassador Almassri said. “Concrete measures are required to hold the Israeli occupation accountable for its actions under international law.”
Despite the mounting losses and ongoing pressure, the Ambassador reaffirmed the resilience of the Palestinian people, emphasizing that their struggle for statehood and dignity would continue.
“The Palestinian people will not be deterred by attempts to break their will,” he said. “They remain steadfast in their pursuit of freedom, justice, and self-determination.”
New Ziana
