•Raises alarm on humanitarian crisis
•Death toll nears 30,000, with over 70,215 injured and 8,000 missing
•Commiserates with family of Aaron Bushnell
Jude Johnson
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Nigeria, Amb. Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh, has warned that the world is on the verge of witnessing a human catastrophe as over two million Palestinians are on the verge of irreparable harm as a result of Israel’s war on Gaza.
Shawesh gave this warning in a statement on Thursday, calling attention to the dire humanitarian crises in the Strip.
In a stark declaration of resistance against the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territories, the Envoy mourned the loss of Aaron Bushnell, who tragically set himself ablaze outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. as a poignant protest against what he deemed complicity in genocide.
Addressing the escalating crisis on the 146th day of what he termed the “Israeli genocidal war,” Ambassador Shawesh highlighted the dire humanitarian situation, emphasising the looming threat of famine and epidemics. He underscored the devastating impact of Israel’s relentless bombardment, destruction, and “suffocating siege on the two million Palestinians in Gaza, placing them at risk of irreparable harm”.
The ambassador condemned Israel’s actions, accusing them of turning a “safe” corridor to Gaza’s south into a trap to kill hungry and forcibly displaced Palestinians. He provided grim statistics, noting a death toll of 29,878 martyrs, with thousands more injured or missing, including students and teachers targeted in attacks on educational institutions.
Furthermore, Shawesh condemned the Israeli occupation’s systematic targeting of Palestinian political prisoners, with over 7,000 arrests in the Occupied West Bank in recent months, including women, children, and journalists. He highlighted credible reports of sexual assault on Palestinian women detainees, denouncing the Israeli regime’s flagrant violations of human rights.
The ambassador criticised Israel’s post-war plans for Gaza, rejecting the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and advocating for continued security control over the region. He echoed calls for an end to the occupation and the establishment of a fully independent Palestinian state, stressing the importance of a two-state solution.
In a stern warning, Shawesh called for an immediate halt to arms exports to Israel, citing concerns over their use in violations of international humanitarian law. He lamented the obstruction of humanitarian aid by the Israeli occupation, urging the international community to intervene to prevent a looming famine in Gaza.
As tensions escalate, the ambassador quoted former Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert’s stark assessment of the Netanyahu government’s intentions, describing it as a “gang” purging the West Bank of Palestinians in pursuit of a violent conflict.
Amidst these dire circumstances, Ambassador Shawesh urged the world to act swiftly to avert further catastrophe in the Palestinian territories and reaffirmed the unwavering resolve of the Palestinian people in their struggle for justice and freedom.
Read the full statement:
Press Release
146 day of the Israel genocidal war
February 29, 2024
Glory and eternity to Aaron Bushnell He died after setting himself ablaze outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. as a declaration that he “will no longer be complicit in genocide.” Our very deep condolences to the family and friends of Aaron Bushnell, his last wards were free Palestine.
“The clock is ticking fast towards famine and an outbreak of epidemics. The lives and health, physical and mental, of the women and girls of Gaza are severely compromised, United Nation”
“The scale and gravity of the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Israel’s relentless bombardment, destruction and suffocating siege puts more than two million Palestinians of Gaza at risk of irreparable harm.”
“Israel turns ‘safe’ corridor to Gaza’s south into trap to kill hungry, forcibly displaced Palestinians”
As of yesterday, the death toll in the Gaza Strip was 29,878 Martyrs, with 70,215 injuries and around 8,000 people still missing under the rubble.
The Ministry of Education declared that in the last 144 days, 5427 students were martyred, 5379 in Gaza and 48 in the OWB, while 9193 were injured, 8888 in Gaza and 305 in the OWB, 97 was arrested in the OWB, including East Jerusalem. 255 teachers and administrative staff were martyred and 891 were injured in the Gaza strip.
286 government schools and 65 UN schools were subjected to bombardments and sabotage, with 40 of them completely destroyed in Gaza, while 57 schools in the OWB were attacked and sabotaged by the IOF. 620,000 students in Gaza are still deprived of the right to learn, while the majority of students are suffering from trauma and facing devastating health situations.
Israel’s clear policy is to make Gaza an unlivable place after the war, so that even if the inhabitants are not forced to leave under the fire, they will do so voluntarily due to the lack of hospitals, schools, universities, drinkable water, and other basic necessities for human life.
Palestinian political prisoners
On the last 144 days, the IOF arrested more than 7270 in the OWB, 228 women, 460 children, 56 of journalists and issued more than 3,800 administrative detention orders. Eleven of the detainees martyred in the Israeli prisons due to the torture and ill treatment. All this is only from the OWB including East Jerusalem. There is no specific number or information about the detention cases of Gaza and Israel is still hide all the information about them. The total number of the Palestinian prisoners on the Israel detention camps around 9000 including 3484 administrative detainees.
More than 200 fanatic Israeli settlers stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque guarded by the occupation force where they performed Talmudic ritual. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities continue to impose restrictions on the Muslim worshiper’s entry to Al-Aqsa preventing all the young men and boys from entering while subjecting all others to be extensively checks. We still insist that the Israeli fanatic and messianic regime is spear no efforts igniting a religious war that if erupted will spare no one.
Claims of Israeli sexual assault of Palestinian women is credible, UN experts says “We are particularly distressed by reports that Palestinian women and girls in detention have also been subjected to multiple forms of sexual assault, such as being stripped naked and searched by male Israeli army officers. At least two female Palestinian detainees were reportedly raped while others were reportedly threatened with rape and sexual violence,” In this connection, a report by the Israeli state comptroller, revealed that one-third of female soldiers in Israel experienced sexual harassment in 2021, as it was published on the Israeli newspaper Haaretz on November 22, 2022.
While we are close to the end of the fifth month of the genocidal Israel war against the Palestinian people, last Friday the Israeli Prime Minister released the “day after” plan for Gaza, aiming to maintain his coalition and save his political skin. The main principles of this plan are as follows:
Israel will maintain security control west of the Jordan River, including the OWB.
He rejected the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state.
Gaza should be ruled by local representatives.
He called for shutting down the Palestinian aid agency UNRWA.
Israel will maintain security control over the Gaza-Egypt border.
The Palestinian presidency spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh said and I quote “If the world is genuinely interested in having security and stability in the region, it must end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and recognize an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital,”
The UN spokesman said on Friday February 23, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for the post-war Gaza is against the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.” He recalled Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored, and reiterates that “any sustainable solution for long-term peace must be in the framework of a two-state solution, and an end to the Occupation and establishment of a fully independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign and viable Palestinian State, of which Gaza is an integral part in line with international law, relevant UN resolutions and existing bilateral agreements”. He adds the plan “goes against everything that we hope for, for the people of Gaza that we hope for, frankly, the ability of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace side by side.”
Arms exports to Israel must stop immediately. This was the official opinion of UN experts, who stressed that according to the 1949 Geneva Convention, states must refrain from transferring any weapons or ammunition to Israel that would be used in Gaza, as this is likely to violate international humanitarian law and must cease immediately. “Such transfers are prohibited even if the exporting State does not intend the arms to be used in violation of the law – or does not know with certainty that they would be used in such a way – as long as there is a clear risk,”. .” state officials involved in arms exports may be individually criminally liable for aiding and abetting any war crimes, crimes against humanity or acts of genocide”. The expert adds all states under the principle of universal jurisdiction and International Criminal Court, may be able to investigate and prosecute such crimes.
Israel has stopped renewing visas and work permits for scores of aid workers who provide vital support for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Humanitarian aids still been blocked by the Israel occupation and the famine is next the door in north Gaza, the people there are starving. The alert come again from Mr. Philippe Lazzarini commissioner general of UNRWA and I quote “The last time UNRWA was able to deliver food aid to northern Gaza was on 23 January. Since then, together with other UN agencies, we have: Warned against looming famine. Appealed for regular humanitarian access. Stated that famine can be averted if more food convoys are allowed into northern Gaza on a regular basis. Our calls to send food aid have been denied and have fallen on deaf ears. This is a manmade disaster. The world committed to never let famine happen again. Famine can still be avoided, through genuine political will to grant access and protection to meaningful assistance. The days to come will once again test our common humanity and values”.
Finally
Former Israel Premier Ehud Olmert Describing Netanyahu’s government as a “gang and accusing him ‘purging’ West Bank of Palestinians. Olmert wrote Friday 23 February in the Israeli daily Haaretz Newspaper and I quote “Gaza is just the introductory chapter; the platform this gang wants to build as the foundation upon which the real fight they are eyeing will be conducted: the battle for the West Bank and the Temple Mount,” {using the false and fabricated name of what so called the temple mount instead the Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Occupied East Jerusalem}. … “This aim will not be achieved without extensive violent conflict. Armageddon.”
Abdullah M. Abu Shawesh
Ambassador of the Embassy of the State of Palestine