Israeli forces ambush, massacre Palestinians while receiving aid

PALESTINIAN Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri has condemned the ambushing and killing of people who were receiving humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip by Israel.

The Palestinian civilians, who were massacred, were waiting for the arrival of humanitarian aid trucks at the Al Nabulsi Roundabout in Gaza yesterday morning when they were ambushed and killed by Israeli forces.

In a statement, Ambassador Almassri demanded an immediate ceasefire by Israel as the only way to protect civilians.

He said the attack left at least 150 martyrs and over 1 000 wounded.

“Israel had premeditated intent to commit this horrific massacre, executing the victims deliberately within the framework of genocide and ethnic cleansing of the residents of the Gaza Strip,” Ambassador Almassri said. “The Israeli army was aware that these victims had come to this area to obtain food and aid, yet they killed them in cold blood. Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians and should be held accountable for war crimes and genocide.

“Hunger and severe malnutrition are widespread in the Gaza Strip, where about 2,2 million Palestinians are facing severe shortages resulting from Israel destroying food supplies and severely restricting the flow of food, medicines and other humanitarian supplies.”

Ambassador Almassri said the massacre proved once again that the Israeli government do not give any attention to international law which demanded the protection of civilians.

The latest massacres were new evidence of genocide and the occupation policy to forcefully displace the Palestinian people.

“The worsening and continuing suffering of the Palestinian people at the hands of Israeli apartheid state reflects a moral and legal failure of the global system and of the countries that claim to be committed to peace, the two-state solution and the principles of human rights,” Ambassador Almassri said.

“The number of civilians killed since the start of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7 last year has risen to 30 000 with 70 percent being women and children while 7 000 are still under the rubble and 70 215 injured. Over 135 journalists, 152 UN staff have been killed while 90 percent of Gaza homes, government offices, UN facilities and hospital has been destroyed.”

A CHROME mining firm battling to recover its 20-tonne excavator from the miner that had hired it has prevailed before the High Court (Commercial Division) and was awarded more than US$195 000 plus interest in hire charges and holding-over damages.

African Chrome Fields Limited instituted legal proceedings against Mr Adorn Samambwa in a bid to recover arrears amounting to US$51 450 plus holding over damages calculated at US$2 250 per week effectively from October 16, 2022.

African Chrome is a private black-owned mining company with mining operations along the Great Dyke in Midlands.

Mr Samambwa refused to surrender the power shovel after the chrome-mining firm cancelled the hire-agreement with him over rent arrears, and he was claiming to have bought the power-shovel from the company.

But Justice Bongani Ndlovu ruled in favour of African Chrome, noting that it had proved its case on balance of probabilities and the court nullified the lease agreement between the two for the hire of a 20-tonne Rondebult Excavator.

Mr Samambwa was ordered to deliver the excavator to African Chrome within 48 hours of notice of the court order, with the Sheriff of the High Court authorised to seize it and deliver it to African Chrome within 48 hours of any failure to do so, said the judge.

He was ordered to pay the total of US$51,450 in hire fees running from December 31 2021 to October 15 2022, plus holding over damages calculated at the rate of US$2 250.00 per week with effect from October 16 2022 to the date of the return of the Rondebult Excavator.

The damages are payable in ZWL$ at the prevailing interbank exchange rate on the date of payment plus interest on all the amounts due, at the prescribed rate from the date of summons to the date of full and final payment.

In his ruling, Justice Ndlovu found that the witnesses for African Chrome were credible in articulating the case for the mining company.

The same could, however, be said about Mr