Humairaa Mayet | 02 December 2019
29 November 2019 marked the 42nd anniversary of the United Nations Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People and was commemorated by numerous public figures at the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Pretoria.
Palestine’s ambassador to South Africa, Hashem Dajani, condemned Israel’s illegal and ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem, and urged the international community to commit to the upliftment of the Palestinian population and the sanctioning of Israel.
Ever since the 1948 Nakba, Palestinians have had to endure untold hardship and suffering which has only intensified following the diminishing of the two-state solution. America and other world powers continue to side with Israel, stated Dajani, and the need for international solidarity is more pressing than ever.
The United Nations Security Council, as well as other countries, must work together to ensure that the Palestinian people are granted human rights and sovereignty, said Dajani.
A spokesperson for the United Nation Information Centre delivered a statement from the UN Secretary General, and elaborated upon the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing occupation of Palestine by Israel.
The Secretary General stated that both the violent occupation of Palestinian territories and the firing of rockets into Israel must cease before constructive negotiations can begin, and a two-state solution can be reached, with East Jerusalem as the capital of both states.
Patricia de Lille, South African Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, called for the liberation of the Palestinian people in all spheres and urged both South Africans and the international community to take action in ensuring that justice is carried out.
“Justice for all is a priority,” said de Lille as she quoted South African icon Nelson Mandela: “We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
De Lille emphasised the importance of peace and stability in the Middle East and called for the emancipation and sovereignty of Palestine.
