By The correspondence
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in Tanzania has commemorated the 78th anniversary of the Nakba with a high-profile diplomatic event in Dar es Salaam, featuring a screening of the Oscar-nominated film Palestine 36 and renewed calls for international solidarity with the Palestinian people.
The event, held on May 16, brought together government officials, diplomats, religious leaders, representatives of international organisations, civil society actors and members of the media.
Guest of honour Ngwaru Jumanne Maghembe, Tanzania’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, led the commemorations alongside senior representatives from the diplomatic corps.
Addressing the gathering, Salam Abu Sharar, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Tanzania, said the film represented more than artistic expression, describing it as a living testimony to Palestinian history and suffering.
He said the commemoration served as a reminder of the events of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced from their homes during the creation of the state of Israel — a historical event Palestinians refer to as the Nakba, or “catastrophe.”
The ambassador also referenced the killings in Deir Yassin and the displacement of more than 750,000 Palestinians, calling on the international community to uphold international law consistently and support the Palestinian people’s right to live in peace, dignity, and freedom.
Abu Sharar criticised what he described as double standards in the global response to conflicts and urged world powers to defend humanitarian principles equally.
The Palestinian envoy also expressed gratitude to Tanzania and President Samia Suluhu Hassan for what he called Tanzania’s longstanding and unwavering support for Palestinian rights.
He said relations between the two sides extend beyond formal diplomacy and are rooted in the liberation and anti-colonial ideals championed by Julius Nyerere, Tanzania’s founding president.
“Tanzania has continued to stand on the side of justice, human dignity, and the right of peoples to self-determination,” he said.
The event comes amid continued international debate over the humanitarian situation in Palestinian territories and growing global calls for renewed diplomatic efforts toward peace in the Middle East.
