ISTANBUL (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, a member of the South African parliament and grandson of the late South African leader Nelson Mandela, stated that the Palestinians’ steadfast determination and strong will for freedom have been a source of inspiration for his country, that urged it to raise the Palestinian issue in international forums.
Mandela, during his presence in Istanbul, said in an interview with Anadolu Agency on Thursday, “The Palestinian cause has been and still is in the hearts of the citizens of the Republic of South Africa.”
He continued, “My grandfather, President Nelson Mandela, the founding father of our democracy, said during his visits to Gaza in 1995 and 1997: ‘Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people.’”
He pointed out that President Nelson Mandela made this pledge to the Palestinians, “and for this reason, we in South Africa continue to defend the issues he represented and fought for. President Mandela considered the Palestinian struggle the greatest ethical issue of this era.”
He emphasized the importance of the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition” initiative, which is scheduled to transport humanitarian aid to Gaza from Turkey.
He mentioned that the “Freedom Flotilla Coalition” is a step towards implementing the decision of the International Court of Justice, which stipulates the necessity of allowing humanitarian aid to enter Gaza freely.
In late January, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
The decision was issued during a session held by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, to consider South Africa’s request for provisional measures in the genocide case filed against Israel.
Despite the UN Security Council’s resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, the Israeli occupation forces continue their war, and they also face charges of genocide before the International Court of Justice.
