A historic journey at sea

Activist and grandson of Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela, is making history by joining the largest civilian flotilla ever assembled to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza. He is part of a small South African contingent of ten people taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail this past Sunday.

By Thursday, the flotilla is expected to converge in the Mediterranean with more than 50 vessels from at least 44 countries, all united in their mission to deliver aid to Palestinians and call for an end to the ongoing siege.

“Comrades, we are proud to say that we have over 40 boats that we have been able to mobilise with 44 countries that have come together. Ours is to end the blockade and break the siege on Gaza,” Mandela told Middle East Eye.

He described the situation in Gaza as a humanitarian crisis of staggering proportions, claiming that a million Palestinians are facing starvation.

“Who is the one who is perpetuating the violence? Who is the one that is a threat, not only to Palestinians but to you and me and the entire global population? Apartheid Israel,” Mandela said.

Greta Thunberg joins the call for human dignity

Ahead of the flotilla’s departure, climate activist Greta Thunberg criticised Israel and the international community for treating Palestinians as numbers rather than human beings.

“Palestinians have been dehumanised to such an extent that they are only spoken of in terms of numbers and United Nations (UN) resolutions,” she said. “It is not antisemitic to say that people should not be bombed, that individuals should not live under occupation, that everyone deserves freedom and dignity.”

Her words have been widely shared on social media, with supporters applauding the humanitarian message and critics warning of political backlash.

International human rights concerns

Amnesty International has echoed these concerns, concluding in December 2024 that Israel is committing acts that qualify as genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

“Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza,” said Agnes Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International. “These acts include killings, causing serious bodily or mental harm, and deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction. Month after month, Israel has treated Palestinians in Gaza as a subhuman group unworthy of human rights and dignity.”

Numerous other humanitarian organisations have backed these claims, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and intervention.

South Africans on the frontlines

For Mandela and his fellow South African activists, the flotilla is about more than just politics, it is a moral and humanitarian mission. By joining the global effort, they aim to deliver aid, raise awareness, and challenge the international community to uphold human rights for Palestinians.

Social media reactions in South Africa have been mixed. Some users have praised the mission as a continuation of Nelson Mandela’s legacy of justice and international solidarity. Others have questioned the political implications of directly confronting Israel at sea, warning of potential risks to participants.

As the flotilla sails toward Gaza, it symbolises not only international solidarity but also the growing voice of civil society in demanding accountability and humanitarian relief, with South African activists firmly on the frontlines.

{Source: IOL}

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