A coalition Muslim organizations in Kenya have launched an ambitious tree-planting initiative to raise funds and awareness for Palestinians suffering amid what the group calls an “unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.

The group, operating under the banner of Voice of Palestine, includes influential bodies such as the Jamia Mosque Committee (Nairobi), the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), and the Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK).

They unveiled the campaign in Nairobi on Thursday, with a focus on supporting reforestation efforts in Kenya and delivering aid to Palestinians enduring hardship under Israeli occupation.

“This is a symbolic act of solidarity and a practical step toward restoring both human dignity and our environment,” the group said in a statement sent to newsrooms.

“We are planting trees to raise funds while also planting hope.”

The coalition accused Israel of committing “a systematic and sustained genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza, where more than 70,000 people have reportedly died in the past two years many of them women and children.

The group condemned what they described as the weaponization of food, pointing to the deliberate starvation of civilians and the blocking of humanitarian convoys at Gaza’s borders.

“This is a calculated humanitarian crisis… over 90 percent of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are now displaced,” the statement read in parts.

They warned that “there is no place in Gaza that can be considered safe.”

Voice of Palestine urged the Kenyan government to take a firmer stance on the crisis.

Referencing Kenya’s own painful history under British colonial rule and the country’s past role in international peace efforts, the coalition called for more decisive action.

“Kenya cannot afford to be indifferent. The government has a moral obligation to stand firm and unequivocally condemn the atrocities committed against the Palestinian people,” the group said.

The statement also drew parallels with the 1994 Rwandan genocide, cautioning that global silence played a role in allowing that tragedy to unfold and warned against similar apathy in the face of the Gaza crisis.

In addition to calling for the free entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the coalition urged Kenya to reconsider its diplomatic ties with Israel.

“Israel’s continued genocide and blatant disregard for United Nations resolutions should compel Kenya to reassess the moral implications of maintaining formal ties,” the statement read.

The tree-planting campaign also aligns with Kenyan President William Ruto’s ambitious reforestation agenda aimed at boosting the nation’s tree cover and combating climate change.

Voice of Palestine said it hopes to work with the government, corporates, and the private sector in implementing a countrywide tree-growing campaign.

It said the campaign symbolizes a convergence of climate justice and humanitarian solidarity.

Kenyan Muslims are seeking to respond to suffering abroad while healing their own land at home.

“We will continue to raise our voices, plant hope, and nurture both the trees and the values of justice, humanity, and peace.”