End all trade ties with apartheid Israel, say SA flotilla activists

THE South African pro-Palestine activists detained by Israeli forces for taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla mission have piled pressure on the government to completely cut trade ties with Israel for its genocide in Gaza. 

The six activists, including Nelson Mandela's grandson, Mandla Mandela, were abducted in international waters while on their way to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. They arrived home to a hero's welcome yesterday having been kept by Israeli forces for almost a week. 

On their abduction, Mandela said more than 8 000 activists were denied access to food and other basic human rights.

"Some flights were cancelled here at OR Tambo by preventing many of our comrades from participating in the mission. They were denied entry at Cairo Airport at the second checkpoint. Therefore, we failed to get to the Rafa border crossing to get the much-needed humanitarian aid," he said.

Mandela said that all those who are in support of the genocide and ethnic cleansing of innocent Palestinians must be arrested.

“We call on the South African government, which has been able to take apartheid Israel to the ICJ and ICC (International Criminal Court), to arrest all those who are complicit in fueling the genocide and selling coal to apartheid Israel.

“We call on the government to ensure that all those who participated in the genocide in apartheid Israel, who have enabled the IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces) to carry on its genocide and systematic ethnic cleansing of Palestinians to be arrested and prosecuted," Mandela said.

Nazreena Hassim, speaking on behalf of the Health Care Workers for Palestine-South Africa (HCW4P-SA), welcomed the return of the team, saying the safe release of the South African delegates from the Global Sumud Flotilla is encouraging in light of the deaths of women and children at the hands of the armed forces.

"Our relief is tempered by the continued horror unfolding in Gaza. The genocide persists, and the collective punishment of Palestinians remains intolerable. We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the people of Palestine until freedom, dignity, and justice are achieved for all," said Hassim.

Responding to calls for the South African government to act against the Israeli government and those aiding the genocide, Department of International Relations spokesperson Chrispin Phiri, stated: "We co-chair The Hague group, we have a full appreciation of what other initiatives are required, and these are being considered for implementation."

Meanwhile, organisers of a new Gaza-bound aid flotilla said on Wednesday the Israeli army intercepted at least three of its boats.

"Three vessels -- Gaza Sunbirds, Alaa Al-Najjar, and Anas Al-Sharif -- have been attacked and illegally intercepted by the Israeli military" in the early morning, 220 kilometres (around 140 miles) off the coast of Gaza, the Global Sumud Flotilla said on X.

It said another ship, the Conscience, carrying more than 90 journalists, doctors and activists, was also "under attack", while its crew on the Milad "are being illegally abducted by Israel".

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed it had intercepted boats entering waters it says fall under its blockade of the war-torn Palestinian territory.

"Another futile attempt to breach the legal naval blockade and enter a combat zone ended in nothing. The vessels and the passengers are transferred to an Israeli port," it said on social media.

"All the passengers are safe and in good health. The passengers are expected to be deported promptly," it added.

The pro-Palestinian activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the boats were carrying "vital aid worth over $110,000 USD in medicines, respiratory equipment, and nutritional supplies that were destined for Gaza's starving hospitals".

Additional reporting by AFP