By Donald Chakamanga
HARARE – Palestinian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Tamer Almassri, has appealed on the United Nations and world leaders to take decisive action in efforts to end a deadly Israeli incursion that has claimed the lives of 43,000 mostly civilians in just a year in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement, Almassri, who also lost his mother during an Israeli attack in the Gaza Strip last December, urged world leaders to go beyond mere statements in their interventions.
“The time for mere expressions of concern has passed,” Almassri said as he further urged “decisive action to confront these ongoing violations of international law.”
Palestinian authorities are seeking immediate enforcement of a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that aligns with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion.
This resolution advocates ending the occupation within 12 months, establishing a firm legal pathway for action.
Additionally, Palestinian representatives propose sweeping sanctions against what they describe as the “entire settler-colonial system,” targeting entities involved in systematic land annexation and violent actions against civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The call for swift action comes amid worsening conditions on the ground.
Hospitals in northern Gaza are nearing collapse, facing relentless shortages of essential supplies, while recent airstrikes in Beit Lahiya resulted in 29 additional casualties.
These developments, according to Palestinian officials, signal an urgent need for immediate international response.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric warned of an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, noting the devastation across North Gaza’s densely populated areas such as Jabalya, Beit Lahiya, and Beit Hanoun.
On behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, Dujarric reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of hostages, and accountability for potential violations of international law.
