The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Israel’s siege of Palestine is devastating the Palestinian economy and reversing the country’s development, Palestine’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe Tamer Almassri has said.
In a condolence statement to the people of Palestine following the death of 21 people in a tragic fire last week, Ambassador Almassri said such incidents could have been avoided had authorities been adequately equipped.
“The Israeli blockade of the occupied Gaza Strip, in its current form, has been in place since June 2007 when Israel imposed an airtight land, sea and air blockade on the area,” he said.
“Israel’s siege on Gaza has devastated its economy and led to what the UN has called the ‘de-development’ of the territory, a process by which development is not merely hindered but reversed.”
Israeli attacks, Ambassador Almassri said, continue to damage the country’s critical infrastructure.
“Such fires could have been easily put off had it been that the Palestinian authorities had adequate equipment, which has been hindered by the Israel siege and blockade of Gaza.
“Over the years, Israeli missile attacks and ground incursions have also damaged Gaza’s infrastructure which includes hospitals, roads, government buildings, water pipes, electricity and sewage treatment infrastructure,” he said.
