The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Harare on Wednesday held a commemorative event marking two years since the escalation of Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have been described as acts of genocide.
The ceremony featured a moving theatrical performance by the local arts ensemble Zambuko/Izibuko, whose drama powerfully portrayed the devastation and human suffering in the Gaza Strip.
In his keynote address, Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Tamer Almassri, expressed deep sorrow over the continued loss of life and widespread destruction in Gaza. He said the international community’s silence had only served to embolden Israel’s aggression against the Palestinian people.
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“It has been 703 days of continuous Israeli aggression and genocide in Palestine,” Ambassador Almassri said. “The Gaza Strip today has no electricity, food, or water, and 90 percent of the population has been displaced. Over 76,000 people have been killed the majority of them women and children.”
He added that the humanitarian situation in Gaza had deteriorated beyond comprehension, with 95 percent of the population now homeless and starvation being used as a weapon of war. “Israel is destroying the very values that the world claims to uphold women’s rights, children’s rights, and human rights in general,” he said. “No country should be above international law.”
Drawing historical parallels, Ambassador Almassri compared Israel’s actions to those of the Nazi regime, accusing it of occupying more than half of Gaza’s 365 square kilometres, even during ceasefires. He praised Zimbabwe for its steadfast solidarity with the Palestinian cause, describing it as a beacon of moral strength in times of global indifference.
“We are grateful to Zimbabwe for standing with us during this dark chapter,” he said. “The play staged today is a clear and emotional reflection of what is truly happening in Palestine ,it touched me deeply.”
The commemoration served as both a memorial for the victims of the Gaza conflict and a renewed call for the international community to act with urgency in seeking accountability and justice for Palestinians suffering under the ongoing blockade and violence.
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