The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Harare on Wednesday held a solemn commemoration marking two years since the escalation of Israeli attacks on Gaza, described by Palestinian authorities as a genocide. The event, hosted at Theatre in the Park, brought together art and diplomacy in a powerful expression of grief, resistance, and international solidarity.
The programme opened with a theatrical performance by Zambuko/Izibuko, one of Zimbabwe’s most renowned political theatre ensembles. Their production, titled River Crossings / Genocide, depicted the physical and emotional toll of war through powerful dramatization, movement, and song. The cast, Churu, Peter Chidaka, Memory Domingo, Leonard Towwanda Magurumire, Tariro McLaren, Robert Malcolm Mukwakwami, Gamuchirai Nokonyoni, and Ashlen Tadiwa delivered a moving reflection on the endurance of ordinary people amid devastation.
In his keynote address, Ambassador Tamer Almassri described the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza as catastrophic.
“It has been 703 days of continuous Israeli aggression and genocide in Palestine,” he said. “The Gaza Strip today has no electricity, food, or water, and 90 percent of the population has been displaced. Over 76,000 people have been killed, the majority of them women and children.”
The Ambassador said 95 percent of Gaza’s residents are now homeless, adding that starvation is being deliberately used as a weapon of war.
“Israel is destroying the very values that the world claims to uphold women’s rights, children’s rights, and human rights in general,” he said. “No country should be above international law.”
He drew historical parallels between Israel’s policies and the atrocities of the Nazi regime, alleging that Israel continues to occupy more than 54 percent of Gaza’s 365 square kilometres, even during ceasefires. Ambassador Almassri also commended Zimbabwe’s consistent support for the Palestinian cause, describing it as a beacon of moral clarity in difficult times.
“We are grateful to Zimbabwe for standing with us during this dark chapter,” he remarked. “The play staged today is a clear and emotional reflection of what is truly happening in Palestine it touched me deeply.”
The commemoration was a memorial to the victims of the Gaza conflict and a renewed call for international accountability and the enduring role of cultural diplomacy using art to awaken conscience, inspire empathy, and reaffirm global solidarity. The evening demonstrated that the struggle for justice often finds its most powerful expression on the stage.