Palestine Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri stresses a point…(photo by Munyaradzi Munaro)
By George Swarei and Donald Chakamanga
HARARE, Zimbabwe — The Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr. Tamer Almassri, has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s alleged exploitation of African asylum seekers, accusing the Israeli government of using them as combatants in the ongoing Gaza conflict in exchange for promises of permanent residency. In a statement, Dr. Almassri called for immediate action from African nations and international bodies to address what he described as “a crime of extortion and racial exploitation.”
Speaking on behalf of the Palestinian state, Dr. Almassri accused Israel of targeting vulnerable African migrants, many of whom fled their home countries seeking safety and asylum. “Apartheid Israel is exploiting the desperation of African asylum seekers, recruiting them for life-threatening military operations in Gaza under false promises of residency,” said Almassri. He added that, of the more than 30,000 African asylum seekers in Israel, many have already been deployed in Gaza, with none granted the promised permanent status.
Israel, according to the ambassador, has even considered drafting the children of African asylum seekers, who have been educated in Israeli schools, into the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In return, their families would be offered a chance at legal residency, though such promises have reportedly gone unfulfilled. Dr. Almassri framed this as a calculated move by Israel to compensate for significant losses in its military personnel.
“This is a stark confirmation that Jewish supremacist racism knows no bounds,” Almassri stated, pointing to what he called “Israel’s systemic treatment of African migrants as second-class people.” He also urged the African Union, regional African bodies, and international human rights organizations to condemn the exploitation, calling it a violation of international humanitarian law.
The ambassador’s statement highlights the long-standing challenges African migrants face in Israel. Since 2018, Israel has pursued aggressive policies aimed at deporting tens of thousands of African asylum seekers, a practice Dr. Almassri described as part of a broader campaign of discrimination. He referenced the expulsion of African migrants and their harsh treatment in detention facilities, describing Israeli policies as rooted in racism and exclusion.
Israel’s policies toward African asylum seekers have drawn international criticism before. In 2018, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced measures to accelerate the deportation of African migrants after the construction of a border fence along Egypt’s border, which had already led to the deportation of 20,000 migrants. Dr. Almassri argued that such actions reinforce Israel’s position as a violator of human rights, especially against African communities.
Furthermore, the ambassador cited investigations, including a 2008 report by CNN, which exposed Israel’s involvement in the illegal global trade of human organs, including the exploitation of African migrants’ bodies for this purpose.
In his closing remarks, Dr. Almassri implored African nations with ties to Israel to reconsider their relationships. “Israel is not a true partner but an entity that views Africans as second-class citizens to be exploited,” he said. He emphasized that the African continent should stand united in holding Israel accountable for its actions, both in Gaza and in its treatment of African migrants within its borders.
The Palestinian ambassador’s statements are likely to heighten tensions as international attention focuses on the humanitarian impact of the Gaza conflict and the wider treatment of migrants in Israel.