By Lloyd Rabaya
The Ambassador of the State of Palestine, Tamer Almassri, yesterday commended the Zimbabwean nation for the solidarity his State has been receiving in its struggle against the Israeli authorities.
This statement was made yesterday as Palestine commemorated the Nakba, or catastrophe, a day that marks the mass displacement of the Palestinian people from their land, which led to the creation of Israel in 1948.
The day marks a sad chapter for Palestinians, as it is believed that more than 700,000 Palestinians were forced to flee their homes during the Arab-Israeli war.
Addressing guests at the Palestinian Embassy in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Tamer Almassri stated that the ties with Zimbabwe go back a long way.
“The solidarity is very important, and we highly appreciate it. Zimbabwe is a kindred country to us in our struggle; we stood together when Zimbabwe was fighting against the apartheid regime in what was then called Southern Rhodesia,” Almassri said.
He also emphasized that Zimbabwe passed the loyalty test, evidenced by the solidarity they have shown over the years.
This comes at a time when Palestine is engaged in conflict with Israel in Gaza, an offensive that began in October 2023.
Sheikh Henry Balakazi from the Zimbabwe Palestine Solidarity Council emphasized that it is no longer a time for words, but a time for real action against Israel.
“We thank you for your presence, not as an act of charity or symbolic sympathy, but as a revolutionary commitment to struggle alongside the oppressed.
We must be clear from the outset: the days of rhetoric and lip-service solidarity are over; the time for action-oriented solidarity has come,” he said.
He reiterated that the Nakba did not end 77 years ago but is still a lived reality as Israel continues its aggressions.
“The violence of the Nakba has evolved and is now reflected in the forced displacements in the West Bank, the bombings of Gaza, the apartheid, the daily humiliation at checkpoints, and the starvation of children,” he continued.
According to Almassri, since October 2023, the death toll in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has risen to over 52,000, with the majority being children and women, and above 118,000 people have been injured.