In a poignant address, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, extended a message of solidarity to the Palestinian people amid the ongoing Israeli campaign against Gaza, now entering its second consecutive year.
Speaking at a panel hosted by the “International Centre for Justice for Palestinians” in London, Pandor emphasized that the Palestinian people are on an unwavering path toward freedom, no matter how distant or unimaginable it may seem.
In response to a question about her message to those participating in the Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation, Pandor drew from a personal memory, sharing, “I would like to offer them my mother’s final words to me. She said, when we were fighting, we sang freedom into our lives.”
Visibly moved, Pandor recounted her mother’s words with emotion, saying, “My mother told me, ‘Naledi, I am truly grateful to have lived to see freedom in my lifetime. There were times when I doubted it would happen, but it did.’”
Her heartfelt words resonated deeply with those in attendance, many of whom were visibly emotional, some even moved to tears, while applause filled the room.
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South Africa has long demonstrated its support for the Palestinian cause, notably filing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December of last year. This legal action claims that Israel’s continued aggression on Gaza violates the UN’s 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Following South Africa’s lead, numerous countries, including Spain, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, Chile, and Libya, have joined the case at the ICJ.
As of today, 403 days have passed since the beginning of the most recent assault on Gaza. The Israeli occupation continues its campaign, targeting homes, medical teams, and journalists. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the attacks have tragically claimed the lives of over 43,000 people, with more than 102,000 injured and thousands still missing beneath the rubble.
