Activists protest Malawi’s move to open embassy in Israel

By Jamal Prince Jamal

LILONGWE, Malawi (AA) – Activists and social commentators are protesting the Malawi government’s move to open a mission in Israel, saying it shows clear disregard for the continued cries of the oppressed Palestinians.

The southern African nation is set to open its embassy in Tel Aviv on Thursday.

Asaboni Phiri, national coordinator for the Malawi-Palestine Solidarity Movement, told Anadolu that Malawi, though a signatory to a number of United Nations human rights charters, is turning a deaf ear to the suffering of the people in Palestine.

“By opening the embassy in Israel while the war still rages on, Malawi is demonstrating to the world that it stands in solidarity with Israel in killing innocent Palestinians,” said the activist, referring to Israel’s ongoing offensive on Gaza, which has killed some 33,000 people since last October.

“What Malawi should realize is that this is not a religious war, but it is a war against the oppressed. As a nation that cares for human rights, we needed to hear the cries of the dying children, the women, and the elderly. Those running our nation should realize that there is no justification for the death of the innocent Palestinians,” Phiri added.

Abdul Azizi Yasin, a social commentator, said opening the embassy now was a “sign of arrogance and abuse.”

“What we have done as a nation is clearly demonstrating our support towards Israel that they can kill innocent people and we don’t care in any way. We could have waited until the war ended,” Yasin told Anadolu.

Shadreck Namalomba, spokesperson for Malawi’s main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), slammed the move as “immature judgment.”

“We are doing this just to seek favors while innocent lives are being killed mercilessly. We totally condemn it,” he said.