Image by [GroundUp]
Western Cape – According to Western nations, Hamas has been deemed a terrorist organisation long before October 7. Despite this official label, many from the global South consider them a resistance movement, drawing parallels between their own struggles for liberation.
It is quite beneficial for those in authority to have unrestricted power in labelling groups with this title and exploit it to their advantage.
However, this categorisation indirectly permits Israeli officials and supporters to equate them and their armed resistance with ISIS, whether on official platforms or social media. This is perplexing, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky labelled Vladimir Putin a terrorist without drawing comparisons to ISIS.
Does this lack of comparison stem from Putin’s lighter skin tone, non-traditional attire, or non-Semitic language? Such rhetoric is uninformed and foolish. Drawing parallels based on ethnicity and asserting their similarity is inherently discriminatory, racist, and Islamophobic.
These comparisons oversimplify and distort the Palestinian cause, suggesting that those fighting for freedom and sovereignty somehow harbour hatred for these very ideals. Furthermore, such discourse capitalises on public sentiments, fears, and experiences, perpetuating stereotypes that label Palestinians as terrorists.
This diminishes criticism of the atrocities committed by the Israeli war machine, even after the deaths of over 11 000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children, and the destruction of religious structures, schools, hospitals, and refugee camps.
Advocating for the aggressor persists because innocent Palestinian children are wrongly compared to ISIS, perpetuating a distorted narrative that poses a significant challenge to a fair and just resolution.
The Confrontation at Sea Point
Over the weekend, a violent clash occurred between Palestinian supporters and police officials at Cape Town’s Sea Point Promenade. The confrontation was triggered when a group of Christian Israeli supporters received authorisation to conduct a prayer gathering in the area.
While this does not excuse the ensuing events, it is noteworthy that every previous Palestinian demonstration in the Western Cape had been peaceful, regardless of the crowd’s size.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of Palestinian supporters peacefully marched through Cape Town, urging the government to close the Israeli embassy.
Nevertheless, Sunday’s incidents drew criticism of the behaviour of Palestinian supporters, leading to the cancellation of the Israeli rally due to the escalated violence.
Professor Usuf Chikte from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) criticised the City of Cape Town for permitting an event in support of Israel, given the ongoing hardships inflicted on the Palestinians. He pointed out that PSC groups had previously applied for permits to demonstrate in the area, only to be denied.
According to him and other observers, this reflects a more significant crisis in the Western Cape, where certain groups are seemingly prioritised over others.
“We wanted to highlight [the crimes committed against the Palestinians], and we weren’t authorised to protest there. So, genocide is okay for the City of Cape Town to amplify and authorise. However, a protest against genocide is declined.”
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Do Not Fuel the Western Narrative
Why the events of the weekend are significant lies in the presence of an individual waving a black ISIS flag amongst the Palestinian ones. This black flag was promptly removed because it did not represent Islam or the aspirations of the Palestinian people for independence.
Professor Chikte stressed that they are adamant about avoiding displaying flags or symbols associated with any faction other than Palestine in all their meetings.
“ISIS is to Islam what Zionism is to Judaism,” said Professor Chikte. “We don’t support ISIS. We are anti-ISIS.”
Consequently, during their marches, authorities are explicitly instructed by them to remove such flags if discovered swiftly.
Hence, it is essential for those taking part in Palestinian solidarity marches to grasp the purpose behind their participation. Carrying flags that align with Western sentiments may unintentionally downplay the significance of the Palestinian cause and cast it in a negative light.
