The Sunday Mail
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
Zimbabwe has called on Israel to “unconditionally” withdraw its occupying forces responsible for injuring and arresting hundreds of Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, in violation of international law.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade said Israeli forces’ actions were uncalled for and infringed on Palestinians’ human rights and international laws.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe has noted with concern, the assault by Israeli security forces on Palestinian worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque that started on April 5, 2023, leading to the injury of many and the wanton arrests of hundreds of Palestinian worshippers.
“These incursions by the Israeli forces are in flagrant violation of the longstanding agreement preventing non-Muslims from holding rituals at the site, which is Islam’s third holiest site after Mecca and Medina, that has been in place since 1967,” said the ministry.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe calls on the government of Israel to unconditionally withdraw its occupying forces from this holy site, in order to de-escalate the tension arising from its unilateral actions.”
Zimbabwe was in favour of the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, which envisage a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, reads the statement.
“Israel, as the occupying power, has binding obligations under International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law to accord maximum and unconditional protection to all Palestinians in the occupied territories, including guaranteeing freedom of worship.
“Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Zimbabwe joins the international community in calling for the revival of the political process, which will lead to the realisation of a two-state solution as envisaged under the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995.”
Palestine’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri, expressed gratitude for Zimbabwe’s stance.
“Zimbabwe is a great friend of Palestine and we do not hide that we are comrades.
“Our solidarity and history of support started in 1970 and it has continued since then. Zimbabwe is one of Palestine’s supporters and votes with the Palestinian cause all the time; we get very strong political and diplomatic support from Zimbabwe,” he said.
“Especially after the recent visit of our Minister of Foreign Affairs to Harare, we started a new era of cooperation and the solidarity field has become wider than before.”
Amb Almassri said Zimbabwe and Palestine shared common principles that reflect in their close collaboration.
“We will continue growing the tree of solidarity by exchanging the support against Israeli occupation and against illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe.
“We are very close because of our history. Palestine suffers exactly what Zimbabwe suffered during the colonial regime of Rhodesia before independence,” he said.
Last week, Israeli police stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque to dislodge what they called “Palestinian agitators” who barricaded themselves inside after the last prayers of the day with fireworks, sticks and stones.
The violence at the site came after Jewish radicals called for animals to be sacrificed in the compound to mark the Jewish Passover holiday.
Twitter: @RuzvidzoWallace
