By Edward Makuzva
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Zimbabwe vehemently rejects the proposed scheme by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to forcibly expel all Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt, an appalling attempt to facilitate the takeover of Palestine by the United States and Israel.
This plan is a blatant violation of international law and an outright infringement on the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
In a statement Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dr Tamer Almassri added that forcibly removing Palestinians from their ancestral land constitutes an act of ethnic cleansing, which is classified as a war crime under international law.
He highlighted that it echoes the Nakba of 1948, a devastating event that displaced millions of Palestinians, resulting in the destruction of lives, homes, and communities. The Palestinian people will not allow such a catastrophe to be repeated.
“The idea of relocating Palestinians to other countries misrepresents their identity, history, and inalienable rights. Palestinians are not refugees seeking resettlement—they are a nation with a deep connection to their homeland, a homeland they are determined to reclaim, with Jerusalem as their capital. Any effort to deny them this right is an affront to their dignity, sovereignty, and existence.
“The forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza would not only reward a state responsible for committing genocidal actions against Palestinians, but it would also embolden its extremist leadership to continue inflicting harm. The international community must not ignore the ongoing atrocities. It must hold Israel accountable and recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, entitled to self-determination and independence”, said Ambassador Almassri.
Palestinian ambassador reaveled that the path to peace lies in the establishment of a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital. Only through this can the occupation end, the suffering of Palestinians cease, and a just, lasting peace be achieved in the region. Any effort to impose a solution that disregards their rights and dignity is bound to fail. The Palestinian people will never surrender to Israel or forsake their homeland and identity.
Ambassador Dr Almassri affirms that Palestinian rights are non-negotiable. The Palestinian people alone have the right to determine their future. He urges all nations and international bodies to reject these plans for ethnic cleansing, as such actions are contrary to international human rights laws and the principles of self-determination.