On Wednesday July 31, members of numerous churches gathered at the Anglican Cathedral in Harare for a specialservice and prayer for the people of Palestine.
With the Middle East conflict still raging, the congregation banded together in solidarity and prayed for divine intervention. Ambassador Tamer Almassri delivered a poignant statement about his own grief.
He described the awful tragedy of losing loved ones, especially his mother, to violence perpetrated by Israeli soldiers. His poignant speech, which stressed the human cost of the war, captivated the audience.
Dr Tamer Almassri addressing the church on World Day of Prayer image credit Tsitsi Betha
In addition, the event highlighted the significance of August 3, 2014, which was designated as a Global Day of Rage and Solidarity with Palestinian prisoners where awareness is raised of the dire humanitarian crisis and ongoing carnage that has left over 49,480 Palestinians dead or missing, 91,128 injured, and 2.2 million refugees.
With reports of brutal treatment by Israeli armed troops, the plight of Palestinian inmates in the West Bank took center stage. More than 9,600 Palestinians have been imprisoned in the occupied West Bank, including 300 women and 635 children, while over 3,300 persons in Gaza have been kidnapped and transferred to unnamed jails.
Along with horrible allegations of organ trafficking by Israeli officials, inmates are tortured to severe conditions, intense torture, and beatings in an attempt to extract confessions. Progressive states and peoples were urged to condemn Israel’s continued aggression against Gaza.
The congregation that gathered at the World Day of Prayer image credit Tsitsi Betha
Proponents want the UN special committee on apartheid reactivated, as well as legal sanctions that include financial, diplomatic, and economic measures. Furthermore, there are calls for Israel to be ejected from the UN and stripped of all of its rights and benefits as a member.
In addition to expressing that the Palestinian people will continue to oppose the occupation using all measures permitted by international law, the day emphasizes the importance of the world community holding Israel accountable for its actions.
Despite the UN’s repeated pleas that it remove blockades and cease the bloodshed, Israel has been able to operate with impunity thanks to strong financial and political backers. Despite these impediments, the Palestinians’ will remains unwavering.
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