The State of Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The State of Palestine has warned of unprecedented catastrophic conditions across the Gaza Strip, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians representing 67 percent of the population face crisis-level food insecurity or worse.
It is said that this severe emergency is the direct result of persistent bombardments and the relentless denial of humanitarian entry by Israeli forces.
In a statement, The State of Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri said since 2024, at least 466 Palestinians have succumbed to malnutrition and starvation, with children tragically comprising one-third of these fatalities.
He added that projections indicate that approximately 74,200 children will require treatment for acute malnutrition.
Dr Almassri further revealed that the blockade has inflicted severe, systemic impacts on maternal and infant health.
Driven by acute malnutrition, anemia rates among pregnant women surged to 61 percent, up from 41 percent prior to October 2023, it is reported.
And tragically, it is said nearly 4,000 pregnancy losses were recorded in the first half of 2026 alone more than triple the figure reported in the preceding six months.
Ambassador Almassri strongly condemns the ongoing blockade enforced by Israeli authorities, who have kept all border crossings closed, completely barring essential food, medicine, and humanitarian relief.
He reiterated that this enforced deprivation has rapidly accelerated the spread of famine across the enclave.
Additionally, Ambassador Almassri has denounced the systematic torture, repression, and severe mistreatment of Palestinian prisoners from Gaza held in the “Rakafet” wing of Ramla Prison.
It is said detainees have suffered grave injuries and burns as a result of these unlawful practices, which constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian law, specifically the four 1949 Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols as well as the Convention Against Torture and the UN Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners.
The State of Palestine has called for immediate and unrestricted entry of food, medicine and other humanitarian supplies into the Gaza Strip, practical support to revive local food production, so that Gaza’s people can feed themselves with dignity.
Dr Almassri has further called on the international community, the Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly to fulfil their responsibilities to protect Palestinian civilians and prisoners, and to end the policy of impunity.
