INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE EVENT
FRIDAY, 29 NOVEMBER 2024 at 10:00

Chair
Excellencies and distinguished colleagues

We take this opportunity to reiterate South Africa’s firm and long-standing support and solidarity for the State of Palestine and the Palestinian people. As President Nelson Mandela stated many years ago “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians”.

The question of Palestine remains unresolved 77 years on, despite numerous UN General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and ICJ rulings. The South African Government has continued to promote efforts to ensure international attention remains on the Palestine and the Middle East peace process. In this regard, we welcome the arrest warrants issued on Israeli leadership by the International Criminal Court (ICC), which will ensure much needed accountability and urge all Parties to the Rome Statute to adhere to their international obligations that stem from this Treaty.  

Today, as we pause and reflect on the events that have unfolded from October 2023 to date, which have marked one of the most tragic and violent periods in the history of the people of Palestine and of the region, we are mindful that nothing has changed. Over the past year, the Israeli military onslaught on Gaza has brought untold suffering to the Palestinian population, who have suffered unspeakable atrocities in an unrelenting campaign of genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes committed by the unshameful Apartheid Israeli regime.

We have always believed that only a comprehensive and unconditional negotiated settlement can bring about lasting peace in the region with the UNSC playing its role. For this to happen, there is an urgent need for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire, an immediate end of the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 (2024), as well as an end to the blockade and destruction and genocide in Gaza. Too much talking and resolutions has not stopped the impunity of the Israeli regime, now it is time to act.

It is unacceptable that some countries say the war against the Palestinians must end yet they continue to provide weapons and other support to enable the war to continue against unarmed civilians. This double talk some stop and the world must act in unison and isolate the genocide regime of Israel.

We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity to the Palestinian people, believing that restoring their legitimate rights in accordance with the two-state solution and the relevant UN resolutions, will culminate in reaching a lasting peace in the Middle East.

I thank you!

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