Solidarity with the people of the Holy Land – Shalom/Salam/Peace
By Anisha Pemjee
29 November 2024
In South Africa, at Freedom Park, the Embassy of the State of Palestine and the United Nations in South Africa hosted the 47th United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, at the commemoration said, “In 1947, the Assembly adopted resolution 181 (II) on the partition of Palestine. In 1977, the General Assembly called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
“The question of Palestine remains unresolved after 77 years. Despite flare-ups in other regional hotspots, the Palestinian question remains at the heart of tensions in the Middle East. A just and equitable settlement is a prerequisite for peace and security in the region.”
On behalf of President Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Hanan Jarrar, Ambassador of Palestine to South Africa bestowed Minister Lamola with the Star of Merit of the Order of the State of Palestine for the continued and unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s struggle for freedom and independence. As Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development at the time, Minister Lamola was at the forefront of bringing the case of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
As part of the proceedings, a memorial plaque for the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat was unveiled by Lamola and Jarrar. They also laid a wreath in his honour. Yasser Arafat’s legacy extends beyond Palestine, said Diana Rumhi Second Secretary at the Palestinian Embassy. “He was a champion of global anti-colonial movements and formed strong alliances with other liberation leaders, most notably Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Arafat and Mandela shared a deep bond, forged through their mutual struggles against apartheid and occupation. The support between the African National Congress (ANC) and the PLO highlighted the solidarity between oppressed peoples. Mandela famously declared, “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,” cementing Arafat’s place in the broader history of global liberation movements.”
Ambassador Hanan Jarrar painted a grim picture of the situation in Gaza. She shared alarming statistics of the atrocities committed by Israel on the men, women and children of Palestine. An immediate ceasefire, even at this late stage, is what is desperately needed. Hanan pleaded with the international community to not be complicit in the heinous crimes being committed by the occupying power, saying that it has faced no consequences for its actions, but has actually been enabled by some.
With ongoing protests in the Israeli territories the consequences of the damaging effects of the insanity and futility of the conflict are being felt most by the ordinary people as they cry out to the leadership to put aside their selfish, distorted political ambitions and allow common sense to prevail.
Jarrar thanked South Africa and South Africans for their continuous support of her country. Besides the case taken to the ICJ and the genocide memorial filed, ordinary South Africans turned out in numbers in many cities across the country to protest the genocide being committed and standing in solidarity with Palestine. The Gift of the Givers, led by Dr Imtiaaz Sooliman has been providing critical humanitarian aid to Palestinians, embodying the spirit of global solidarity.
In a significant legal development, arrest warrants were recently issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Benny Gantz. The charges relate to war crimes committed. The irony of this moment is stark: while Yasser Arafat was once restricted to his compound under siege by Israeli forces, the leaders of the occupying power now face global legal scrutiny.
The devastation unfolding in the Holy Land, a region revered by the three great monotheistic religions, adds a profound layer of tragedy. Once a symbol of spiritual unity, it now stands as a testament to division, suffering, and the failure of humanity to uphold justice and peace. The irony is not lost on the world, as sites of worship and heritage become collateral damage in the relentless conflict.
Also speaking at the commemoration were Masimba Tafirenyika of the United Nations, Jane Mufamadi, CEO of Freedom Park, Ibrahim Ayesh of Gift of the Givers and Shannon Ebrahim of Dirco.
As the world observes the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, the urgent call for a just and lasting solution echoes louder than ever. The path to peace remains fraught with challenges, but the shared humanity of the global community demands action, accountability, and hope for a brighter future.