South Africa is currently hosting the inaugural Global Anti-Apartheid Conference for Palestine, with a primary focus on shedding light on the ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and the unlawful colonialism perpetrated by Israeli settlers, among other pressing issues.
The three-day Anti-Apartheid conference commenced on Friday at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg and has drawn participation from notable international speakers.
Among the attendees are Declan Kearney, chairperson of the Irish Sinn Fein political party, and Mustafa Barghouti, a prominent Palestinian human rights activist and politician, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Mustafa Barghouti expressed profound condemnation for the plight endured by Palestinians, emphasising the dehumanisation they face at the hands of Israeli forces. He denounced the atrocities committed against Palestinians, including the denial of proper burial rites for their deceased loved ones.
Barghouti characterised the situation in Palestine as a grave global injustice perpetrated against an entire population. He highlighted the insidious agenda of the Israeli settler system, which seeks to dismantle Palestine, resulting in the displacement of 70% of the Palestinian populace.
Asserting the unwavering resilience of Palestinians, Barghouti affirmed their determination to remain steadfast on their land and resist oppression.
He extended gratitude to South Africa for its steadfast support of the Palestinian cause, particularly in initiating legal action against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where Israel faces allegations of genocide. An interim ruling in January deemed it “plausible” that Tel Aviv is engaged in genocidal acts in Gaza, prompting the ICJ to demand Israel cease such actions and ensure the provision of humanitarian aid to civilians.
Declan Kearney commended the global solidarity demonstrated by ordinary individuals in support of Palestine, describing South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel as a courageous endeavour.
Kearney reassured the Palestinian people of unwavering solidarity, emphasising that Israel will never succeed in quelling their spirit of resistance. He affirmed his unequivocal support for Palestinians in their prolonged struggle for freedom, vowing never to abandon them.