Harare, (New Ziana) – A wave of international outrage has followed the circulation of footage showing an Israeli soldier destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon, an act that also drew sharp condemnation from Palestinian Ambassador Tamer Almassri on Monday, who described it as evidence of “institutionalized hatred” and escalating religious persecution.
In a strongly worded statement, Ambassador Almassri said the incident was not an isolated act of vandalism but rather part of a broader pattern of hostility toward Christianity and Islam. He argued that such actions reflect entrenched policies that have increasingly undermined religious co-existence, particularly in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
“The world has woken up to a display of staggering barbarism. Footage of an Israeli soldier destroying a statue of Jesus Christ in Lebanon with a sledgehammer has sent shockwaves through the international community.
This act is not an isolated incident of vandalism; it is a visceral manifestation of the institutionalized hatred the apartheid State of Israel has fostered against other religions, specifically Christianity and Islam, especially in Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza,” he said.
He pointed to recent tensions during Holy Saturday and Orthodox Easter as further evidence of deteriorating conditions for religious freedom with reports from Jerusalem indicating that Israeli security forces confronted and detained Palestinian Christians attempting to access the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of Christianity’s most sacred sites.
“The following day, Israeli fascist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his supporters stormed into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, performing prayers despite a ban on non-Muslim religious rituals at the site. These actions demonstrate a clear and deliberate attempt by the Israeli government to impose its control over Muslim and Christian worship,” Almassri said.
He warned that these developments signal a deliberate attempt to assert unilateral control over Muslim and Christian holy places.
He described the situation as a “clear and present danger” to freedom of worship in the Holy Land, arguing that current policies demonstrate a consistent pattern of discrimination and repression against Palestinians.
Amid the escalating tensions, Almassri expressed gratitude for international solidarity, singling out Zimbabwean churches for their vocal support.
He paid particular tribute to Archbishop Andby Makururu, praising his outspoken advocacy for Palestinian rights and his condemnation of actions affecting both Christian and Muslim communities.
“In the face of these atrocities, Ambassador Almassri wishes to extend his deepest gratitude to the Zimbabwean churches for their unwavering solidarity, especially Archbishop Andby Makururu, whose vocal support for the Palestinian cause and consistent rebuking of Israeli actions against Christians and Muslims has been a beacon of moral clarity.
“The support of the Zimbabwean people remains a critical pillar in the global struggle for justice and the protection of the Holy Land,” he said.
New Ziana
