By Munyaradzi Munaro
THE words of the late President Robert Mugabe at the 72nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) podium continue to resonate with truth and clarity.
In his address, he warned against the return of a ‘biblical giant called Goliath’ who threatens the extinction of other countries. Mugabe’s words were a prophetic warning against the destructive tendencies of powerful nations, particularly the US under the leadership of Donald Trump.
Mugabe’s prophetic words have proven to be eerily accurate, as Trump’s actions have consistently demonstrated a blatant disregard for international norms, human rights and the sovereignty of other nations, as he continues to treat the world like a real estate market, where he can buy, sell and manipulate countries and their people at will. This is not only a gross violation of international law but also a slap in the face of humanity’s collective conscience.
Trump’s latest affront is his attempt to displace Palestinians from their historical land in Gaza. Of course, it is not Trump’s original idea but of the fascist leadership of Israel like Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich using Trump as their mouthpiece. After levelling their homes, killing over 80 000 Palestinians, and turning the city into an unliveable wasteland, Trump now claims that Gaza is uninhabitable and that the Palestinians should be relocated to another area.
This is a blatant display of colonialism and racism, dressed up as capitalism. Gaza did not experience an earthquake or hurricane but over 80 tonnes of American-made bombs equivalent to six small boy Hiroshima nuclear bombs in Japan.
Trump’s solution to the Palestinian problem is not to address the root causes of the conflict, which include the occupation and oppression by Israel, but to simply get rid of the Palestinians and take over their land.
This is worse than slave trade!
This is not just a business deal gone wrong; it is a deliberate attempt to erase the identity, history and culture of the Palestinian people. Trump’s actions are reminiscent of the colonial era, where powerful nations would displace and exploit indigenous populations to further their own interests.
The fact that Trump, who built his political brand on shutting borders and demonising migrants, is now advocating the relocation of Palestinians, is a stark display of hypocrisy.
Moreover, Trump’s plan is not a new idea, but rather a continuation of Israel’s longstanding policy of ethnic cleansing. Since 1967, Israel has been trying to get rid of Gaza’s population, and Trump’s plan is simply a rebranding of this same policy.
The fact that the US is now openly supporting this policy is a clear indication of the complicity of the international community in the oppression of the Palestinian people.
After all the bombs, the starvation, the massacres and genocide for 15 months, Gaza still stands. Gaza has always resisted Israeli occupation, and the Palestinians have always refused to surrender rights to their homeland.
As Mugabe declared at the 75th UNGA: “It is because the monster of imperialism was defeated by us. Bring us another monster by whatever name, he will suffer the same consequences.”
The American plan will definitely be defeated.
Throughout history, the world has witnessed the rise and fall of numerous empires in Palestine, each leaving behind a legacy of conquest, destruction and, ultimately, collapse.
From the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians to the mighty Romans and Ottomans, these empires once seemed invincible, only to crumble beneath the weight of their own hubris and brutality. As we reflect on the trajectory of these fallen powers, it becomes increasingly clear that Israel, despite its current strength, is not immune to the same fate.
The Roman Empire, in particular, serves as a poignant example of the fleeting nature of power. Once the epitome of military might and imperial grandeur, Rome presided over some of the most heinous atrocities in human history, including the massacre of innocent baby boys and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The likes of Herod, Caesar Augustus and Pontius Pilate, notorious for their ruthlessness and tyranny, set a precedent for cruelty and oppression that would be emulated by subsequent empires. It is here that we find the roots of the current Israeli occupation’s cruelty, hate and brutality. Israel, despite its current military prowess, is not exempt from this pattern of rise and fall. Its occupation of Palestinian territories, its disregard for human rights and its increasing isolation on the international stage all portend a similar fate. As the world begins to awaken to the injustices perpetrated by the Israeli occupation, it becomes increasingly clear that Israel’s days are numbered.
Gaza is not for sale, and the Palestinian people will not be displaced or erased from their homeland. Trump and Netanyahu’s colonialist and racist policies will ultimately fail, just like all the empires that have come before them.
Today, it maybe Gaza, tomorrow might be Panama, Greenland or South Africa. The world must stand together to reject Trump’s plan and to support the Palestinian people in their just struggle for freedom, justice and self-determination.
As Mugabe so eloquently put it: “Blow your trumpet in a musical way towards the values of unity, peace, cooperation, togetherness and dialogue, which we have always stood for.”
Munyaradzi Munaro is an international relations analyst. He writes in his personal capacity.
