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South Africa renews its call for Israel to end the occupation of Palestine
Every year, the United Nations marks a moment that means far more to South Africans than many might realise. The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People has long resonated with a country whose own history is shaped by liberation and global support. This year carried an added layer of significance. It coincided with the thirtieth anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between South Africa and Palestine, a milestone Pretoria used to restate its unwavering position.
A message from Pretoria: peace requires ending the occupation
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation did not mince its words. South Africa believes the path to lasting peace can only begin when Israel ends what Pretoria calls its illegal occupation of Palestinian territories and complies with international law. Officials emphasised that this has been the consistent message for decades, anchored in the many United Nations resolutions that speak to Palestinian rights and statehood.
This reaffirmation came as South Africa joined the global community in marking the forty-eighth observance of the solidarity day. The country reiterated that true peace is impossible without justice, accountability, and meaningful recognition of Palestinian agency.
Shared struggles and long-standing solidarity
South Africa’s historical bond with Palestine is well known. Many South Africans, especially those who lived through the apartheid era, draw parallels between the Palestinian struggle and their own fight for dignity and freedom. Government positions on the issue often reflect this memory, and this year’s statement leaned heavily on themes of friendship, cooperation, and a moral duty to advocate for those who continue to seek self-determination.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to participate in the official commemoration, supported by Deputy Minister Thandi Moraka. Pretoria says this moment allows the world to pause and reflect on seventy-five years of an unresolved question: the right of Palestinians to statehood and a peaceful future.
A renewed push for a genuine peace process
Dirco highlighted South Africa’s commitment to reviving a meaningful peace process that places Palestinians at the centre. The department expressed alarm over what it described as a genocide in the occupied territories, particularly in Gaza. As a result, Pretoria has again called for the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan. This includes the demand for a permanent ceasefire, the opening of humanitarian access routes through the United Nations and reputable agencies, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the border with Egypt.
For South Africa, these are not abstract diplomatic phrases. They form part of a concrete roadmap the country believes is needed to shift the crisis toward resolution.
A call to the world: uphold your obligations
A significant thread through Pretoria’s message is the role of the international community. South Africa says that every member state must ensure that they do not support or sustain conditions that perpetuate occupation or fuel ongoing violence. According to Dirco, helping Palestinians achieve justice, freedom, and statehood is a collective responsibility.
This stance is not new. In late 2023, South Africa filed a complaint at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Israel strongly rejected the claim. Yet Pretoria’s insistence on legal accountability shows how determined the government is to use both moral and judicial avenues in its advocacy for Palestinians.
A South African voice shaped by history
Public reaction across social platforms in South Africa often reflects a mix of historical empathy and frustration with the global response to the conflict. Many South Africans see their own journey echoed in Palestinian experiences of occupation, displacement, and the fight for recognition. Even those who do not agree with every government statement tend to acknowledge that the issue sits deeply within the country’s political identity.
As the world once again commemorates a day meant to honour Palestinian rights, Pretoria’s message is clear. Solidarity is not symbolic. It is a renewed declaration that peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without justice, and justice cannot exist without ending conditions that strip a people of their freedom.
Also read: A Growing Exodus: Why Israelis Are Leaving Home in 2025
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Source: The Citizen
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