South Africa – In almost every interview conducted by major media outlets, individuals who advocate for the Palestinian cause are consistently posed with the question of whether they condemn the actions of Hamas on October 7.
It is worth noting that this question is never directed at supporters and officials of Israel. They are not asked whether they denounce the acts of violence, subjugation, and ethnic displacement carried out by the Zionist Israeli government against the Palestinians.
Although the Palestinian supporters mourn and regret the loss of life on both sides of the conflict, they also recognise the events of October 7 cannot be viewed in isolation. As a result, their voices are often silenced when they attempt to provide historical context leading up to that particular incident.
This is why Carl Niehaus, the President of the African Radical Economic Transformation Alliance (ARETA), emphasises the importance of placing the Palestinian armed struggle into its broader context. He asserts it should not be reduced to a mere terrorist attack, as Western governments and media tend to portray it.
According to Niehaus, this struggle is a response to the traumatic events of the 1948 Nakba and the ongoing oppression and land confiscation which Palestinians endure. It is a reaction to the annual violence, humiliation, and intimidation perpetrated by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israeli settlers.
“You cannot say to the people of Palestine, under the circumstances of the terrible provocation, under the circumstances of the genocide that is being committed and the years of suffering they had to face, that they do not have the right to take up arms and fight for their future and survival.”
South African Responsibility to Stand with Palestine
As a former freedom fighter in South Africa and a member of the armed wing of the African National Congress, Niehaus comprehends the imperative of resorting to armed resistance, particularly when peaceful efforts are constantly met with severe suppression.
In 2018, the IDF killed hundreds of Palestinians in protests near the Gaza-Israeli border. These individuals simply demanded their right to return to their ancestral lands.
While Niehaus does not endorse or support violence and deeply laments and regrets the consequences of it, he does maintain the belief that when a people faces a regime that is genocidal, sadistic, and malevolent, they possess the right to take up arms against that regime, much like the freedom and liberation fighters in South Africa did during their struggle.
In light of South Africa’s historical experiences, Niehaus contends that every citizen is responsible for standing up against injustice, racism, and apartheid and expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
“I believe that every one of us in the world needs to stand up now and say we cannot allow this to continue … If we keep quiet, if we do not speak and we act … Then we are co-responsible.”
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The West’s Complicity in Palestine
Since October 7, Western leaders have employed the “right of Israel to self-defence”, as a rationale for justifying the ongoing attacks, which involve sustained airstrikes, starvation, and chaos.
Despite their participation in international forums advocating for peace, compassion, and the sanctity of life, the weapons, bombs, and missiles they supply to Israel result in the daily deaths of hundreds of Palestinians, including many innocent children.
The situation in Gaza is, in essence, permitted to persist due to the actions of Western governments. They use their veto power to block humanitarian resolutions related to Gaza, censor criticism of the atrocities committed against the Palestinians in the media, and vocally, militarily and financially maintain unwavering support for Israel.
Hence, Niehaus believes for their actions, these Western governments are complicit in the war crimes committed by Israel and cannot absolve themselves of the bloodshed in the Arab world.
“The suffering of human beings means nothing to them. They themselves, just as much as Benjamin Netanyahu and his whole genocidal cabinet, are responsible for the war crimes being committed. They, themselves, are butchers.”
