Harare, (New Ziana) – The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Zimbabwe on Thursday commemorated Al Nakba Day, or The Catastrophe, which is remembrance of the displacement of Palestinians from their land to pave way for the creation of Jewish State of Israel in 1948.
Although the State of Israel was established on May 14, 1948, Al Nakba is commemorated on May 15, and is a rallying point for Palestinian resistance against Israeli occupation.
More than 700,000 Palestinians were forced from their homes during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and over 500 villages were destroyed — a trauma that echoes through generations to this day.
Addressing dignitaries and invited guests at the Palestinian Embassy in Harare, Ambassador Tamer Almassri condemned what he described as ongoing “occupation and Israeli aggression” in Gaza, drawing a direct line between the events of 1948 and the current humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the besieged enclave.
“We oppose the further occupation and Israeli aggression in Gaza. We will stand against it,” said Almassri. “Two wrongs cannot make a right — why should Palestine pay for the wrongs of Europe? There can never be justice in the world if the people of Palestine are not free.”
His remarks come against the backdrop of the latest and most devastating chapter in the Gaza conflict.
Since October 2023, Israel has launched a sustained military campaign in Gaza, following the Hamas-led incursion that killed over 1,200 Israelis.
In response, Israeli air and ground operations have killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to international humanitarian groups, with entire neighborhoods flattened, critical infrastructure decimated, and the region’s already fragile economy shattered.
The United Nations and multiple international rights organizations have raised alarm over the scale of the destruction, with many describing it as ethnic cleansing or genocide.
Ambassador Almassri expressed deep appreciation for Zimbabwe’s solidarity, singling out the government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for its moral support during what he described as Palestine’s “time of despair.”
“We are grateful for the moral support and solidarity of (the) Zimbabwean leadership under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who stands with Palestine,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the ambassador held a closed-door meeting with Zimbabwe’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu, where discussions reportedly focused on economic cooperation and avenues to support displaced Palestinian entrepreneurs and businesses.
“Since the Israeli genocide, many of our people have left the Gaza Strip because their factories were destroyed under the Israeli apartheid military tool,” Almassri told journalists after the meeting. “Now they are trying to find opportunities here in Zimbabwe. We want to open some ground for them here — that is what we were discussing: areas of economic and business cooperation.”
His remarks reflect a strategic shift in Palestinian diplomacy — not only seeking political solidarity but also economic partnerships that can help rebuild shattered lives.
Zimbabwe, a vocal supporter of liberation movements and anti-colonial struggles, is seen as a natural partner.
New Ziana
