Ambassador Tamer Almassri has strongly condemned what he described as a “barbaric and inhumane act” in the occupied West Bank after Israeli settlers allegedly forced a Palestinian family to exhume the body of their 80-year-old father, Hussein Asasa, shortly after his burial in their village.
According to Almassri, the family had secured all the required permits before carrying out the burial, yet were still compelled to remove the body from the grave. He said the incident reflects the growing hostility faced by Palestinians in the occupied territories and highlights what he called the continued dehumanization of Palestinian communities.
The ambassador said attacks by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have intensified significantly since October 2023, with reports indicating that dozens of Palestinians have been killed, hundreds injured and several families displaced from their homes amid escalating tensions.
Almassri also accused the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu of accelerating illegal settlement expansion and enabling violence by armed settlers and soldiers against Palestinians. He argued that such actions continue to threaten the safety, livelihoods and basic human rights of Palestinians living under occupation.
Turning to Gaza, Almassri said the humanitarian crisis has worsened dramatically since the outbreak of the conflict in 2023. He cited figures showing tens of thousands of deaths and injuries, with many more people believed to remain trapped beneath rubble following ongoing military operations.
He called on the international community, including the United Nations, to take firmer action against Israel and hold its government accountable for alleged violations of international law. Almassri said the continued lack of decisive intervention has allowed the situation to deteriorate further, urging global institutions to intensify efforts to protect Palestinian civilians and uphold their rights.
