By Maxwell Mapungwana
Harare – The State of Palestine has strongly condemned Israel’s latest expansion of its military-controlled zone in the Gaza Strip, describing the move as a significant escalation that further worsens the humanitarian crisis facing millions of Palestinians.
In a statement, Palestinian Ambassador Tamer Almassri said Israel’s latest advance has resulted in its forces controlling about 70 percent of the Gaza Strip, leaving more than two million Palestinians confined to the remaining 30 percent of the already heavily devastated territory.
“Ambassador Tamer Almassri strongly condemns Israel’s latest expansion of its illegal military boundary deeper into the Gaza Strip, a move that has further compressed the living space of a population already pushed to the edge of survival.
The Israeli forces now exert control over 70 percent of the entire Gaza Strip, leaving barely 30% of the enclave, a fraction of already devastated land for more than two million people.
The accelerating assault on Palestinian life is not in isolation, but as part of a deliberate, coordinated campaign by the Israeli fascist leadership to erase the Palestinian people from their homeland,” said the ambassador.
According to Ambassador Almassri, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has claimed the lives of more than 73,000 people and left over 173,000 others injured.
He further revealed that approximately 90 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, water systems, roads and homes, has been destroyed.
The ambassador also condemned what he described as escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, adding that the attacks, including arson, shootings and raids on Palestinian villages, had reached unprecedented levels.
Citing United Nations figures, Ambassador Almassri said an average of six settler attacks per day had been recorded in 2026.
He alleged that the violence, which he said was supported by extremist Israeli political leaders, was intended to intimidate Palestinians and force communities from their land to facilitate de facto annexation.
Ambassador Almassri called on the international community, including governments and multilateral institutions, to take what he described as practical and enforceable measures to halt the forced displacement of Palestinians and ensure the protection of civilians.
He also urged the international community to impose comprehensive sanctions on Israel over what he described as ongoing violations of international humanitarian law.
Israel has consistently rejected accusations that it is committing genocide in Gaza, maintaining that its military operations are directed against Hamas following the group’s October 7, 2023 attack, and says it takes measures to minimise civilian casualties while blaming Hamas for operating within civilian areas.
