The international community continues to stand with Palestine in fighting Israeli apartheid. The Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy hosted His Excellency Tamer Almassri, Ambassador of Palestine to Zimbabwe to deliver a compelling lecture on the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The special lecture entitled  ‘Israeli Apartheid and Genocide in Palestine: Narrating Israeli Crimes Against Humanity” demystified the dire situation faced by the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation and oppression. The Ambassador vividly expressed the systematic discrimination Palestinians encounter in every aspect of life.

Ambassador Almassri illustrated the ongoing Israeli apartheid army’s actions in the West Bank, including construction of 998 checkpoints and gates, which significantly increased travel times between cities. As if this may not be enough, the situation in Palestine has reached another level where 14 000 civilians are trapped under rubble and 47 000 have been registered as martyrs. The special lecture benefited students and stakeholders in understanding the real situation in Palestine which needs the global village to react.

V.A. Chikanda, Principal lecturer at the Zimbabwe Institute of Diplomacy, has expressed concerns over the ongoing ceasefire, emphasizing that it has failed to end the Israeli occupation and illegal settlements. He remains skeptical about its effectiveness. Chikanda also hopes that the Trump administration’s sanctions on these illegal settlements will help curb apartheid. “There will never be true freedom in the world until the people of Palestine are free,” said Mr. Chikanda.