"Brazen and illegal': local activist slams Israel for blocking Gaza aid

LOCAL activists has condemned Israel's interception of humanitarian aid convoys headed for Gaza, calling the action 'brazen and completely illegal'.

Dr Lubna Nadvi, co-founder and member of the KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum, urged governments worldwide to respond to citizens' demands to break the siege and secure the release of detained members of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

She said thet were shocked at the “brazen and completely illegal” act by the Israeli apartheid regime. 

“The fact that one can forcibly stop humanitarian convoys taking food and medicine to starving people and not be held accountable for it, as seems to be the case with Israel, is just mind-boggling. 

“We demand that the governments of the world do what they are supposed to as elected officials, which is to hear the voices of their citizens and act on their requests to help to break the siege of Gaza, and now to ensure that  members of the Global Sumud Flotilla abducted  by Israel are released,” she said. 

Nasiha Soomar, an executive member of the South Africa Palestine Movement, said: “We condemn the abduction of Chief Mandla Mandela, other South African activists and global activists. This attack once again exposes Israel’s systematic use of starvation as a weapon of war, an act defined under international law as a war crime. 

“With genocide in Gaza now confirmed, South Africa must take decisive action. This means cutting all economic ties, halting the supply of coal that fuels the genocide, and moving towards full sanctions against Israel, in line with the next steps outlined by the United Nations,” she said. 

Shenilla Mohamed, the executive director of Amnesty International South Africa said Israel’s unlawful interception of the flotilla illustrated “its determination to continue deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza”. 

“Israel’s forceful interception of the flotilla vessels and detention of its crew off the coast of Gaza is a brazen assault against solidarity activists carrying out an entirely peaceful humanitarian mission. This seizure comes after weeks of threats and incitement by Israeli officials against the flotilla and its participants and after several attempts to sabotage some of its ships.  

“By continuing to actively block vital aid to a population against whom Israel is committing genocide, including by inflicting famine, Israel is once again demonstrating its utter contempt for the legally binding orders of the International Court of Justice and its own obligations as the occupying power to ensure Palestinians in Gaza have access to sufficient food and lifesaving humanitarian assistance.  

“The crew of the intercepted vessels must be immediately and unconditionally released. Their detention is unlawful, and Israel must be held fully accountable for their safety and ensure they are protected against any form of ill-treatment pending their release,” she said. 

The humanitarian vessels aiming to provide vital aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, has become embroiled in escalating tensions surrounding Israel’s military actions and humanitarian policies in the region.

On Wednesday, Chief  Nkosi Zwelivelile “ Mandla” Mandela, who is the grandson of the late Nelson Mandela and a Palestinian solidarity activist, shared a video on social media platforms in which he said that he had been “abducted” by Israeli forces after their boats had been intercepted. 

In the video, he said: “My name is Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela. I am a citizen of the Republic of South Africa. If you are receiving this video, it means that we have been intercepted and I have been abducted by the apartheid State of Israel. I call on you to request our government to exact pressure for my immediate release.”

According to reports, Israeli forces intercepted at least 39 vessels and detained dozens of crew members of the flotilla.

Meanwhile, President, Cyril Ramaphosa, in a statement, has called on the Government of the State of Israel to release South Africans and other nationals abducted as part of Israeli authorities’ interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

He said the interception in international waters off the coast of Gaza reinforces Israel’s continued violation of international law and infliction of suffering, including starvation, on the Palestinian people.

According to the statement, South Africans who were on board the flotilla include Mandela, Zukiswa Wanner and Reaaz Moolla, while confirmation is pending on the abduction of Zaheera Soomar, Fatima Hendricks and Carrie Shelver.

“The interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla is another grave offence by Israel of global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza and advancing peace in the region.

“On behalf of our Government and nation, I call on Israel to immediately release the South Africans abducted in international waters, and to release other nationals who have tried to reach Gaza with humanitarian aid.

“The interception of the flotilla in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla,” said President Ramaphosa. 

He said this action also violated an International Court of Justice injunction that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded.

“South Africa calls on Israel to ensure that the life-saving cargo transported by this flotilla reaches the people of Gaza, as the flotilla represents solidarity with Gaza, not confrontation with Israel.

“South Africa supports the call by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible.

“My thoughts are with all of the abductees and their families, and it is my expectation that Israel will release the human rights activists as these abductions serve no purpose in the context of efforts to secure peace in the Middle East,” said President Ramaphosa.

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