SG Anthony Guetaras official portrait
By Donald Chakamanga
The conflict in Palestine is one of the most painful in the world. To many, it remains a puzzle, when and how the apartheid will end.
Since June 1967, Israel’s ruthless policies of land confiscation, illegal settlement and dispossession, rampant discrimination which have inflicted immense suffering on Palestinians has received a strong international attack.
The world has castigated Israel’s military rule which has brought untold sufferings on the daily lives of Palestinians. In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)).
The resolution on the observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People also encourages Member States to continue to give the widest support and publicity to the observance of the Day of Solidarity.
In 1947 the United Nations accepted the responsibility of finding a just solution for the Palestine issue, and still attempts to deal with the task today.
During this year’s commemorations on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the United Nations (U.N) has condemned the apartheid saying it ‘heightens anger, despair and hopelessness.’
United Nations Secretary General António Guterres released a message to mark the the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. In Harare the message was read on his behalf by U.N Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, His Excellency Edward Kallon at a colourful ceremony.
In his address, he acknowledged that the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People came at a time of diminished hope for peace.
UN Secretary-General Guterres mentioned that he was deeply saddened by the growing number of Palestinian civilians who have lost their lives in the spiral of violence engulfing the occupied West Bank.
“Each casualty fuels fear and yet more violence. I urge all parties to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and break this deadly cycle,” he said.
He also advocated for the parties to engage each other inorder to end debilitating closures and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and improve living conditions of all Palestinians.
In addition, the United Nations said its position is clear -“peace must advance – the occupation must end.”
The United Nations revealed that it is steadfast in its commitment to realize the vision of two States – Israel and Palestine – living side by side in peace and security, with Jerusalem as the capital of both States.
“Together, let us reaffirm our support to the Palestinian people in their quest to achieve their inalienable rights and build a future of peace, justice, security, and dignity for all,” said UN Secretary-General Guterres.
Speaking at the commemorations in Harare, Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Tamer Almassri castigated the British mandate in Palestine from 1918 to 1948. Ambassador Almassri said it was an occupation by the British Government because Palestinians never asked for a mandate.
He added that after thirty years of the mandate the British failed to create a viable indigenous Government in Palestine but sowed seeds of civil war between the Arabs and Jews refugees.
The event also witnessed the certification and book launch of a book written by Zimbabwean Women in solidarity with Palestinian Women entitled “A cry for Hope and Freedom”.
