Apart from condemning Israel’s assaults on medical facilities and challenging their claims of not deliberately targeting civilians, Dr Gilbert advocates for South Africa to leverage its resources and naval capabilities to provide crucial aid and deploy medical professionals to Gaza.
Durban – During the third segment of Dr Mads Gilbert’s South African tour he initiated the day with a media briefing at St James on Venice which was followed up by the main event at NMJ Hall in Morningside, Durban. This comes after two days full of interviews and events in Johannesburg.
During the briefing, he criticised the Israeli regime’s assaults on hospitals in Gaza. Additionally, he seized the opportunity to question the Israeli narrative, precisely their assertion that they do not intentionally target civilians. Among the attendees were members of the media and Chief Mandla Mandela, who provided insights into the altercation at Sea Point in Cape Town the previous Sunday.
The main event: NMJ Hall
Dr Mads Gilbert, even though he landed in Durban the very same day and had an event earlier, was filled with energy and ready to give his talk. Ready to educate the masses in the hall on the atrocities occuring in Gaza at this very moment.
Gilbert: “I didn’t want to be in Durban. I wanted to be in Gaza. The Israeli occupiers have sealed off Gaza. I will not give up. I will stay in Africa, Cairo until we are allowed back into Gaza… Gaza exists, Gaza resists and they will never give up their land.”
"Gaza exists, Gaza resists and they will never give up their land." - Dr Mads Gilbert
"Gaza exists, Gaza resists and they will never give up their land." - Dr Mads Gilbert
“Any enemy that tries to beat Gaza will be beaten. I can tell you that!” – Dr Mads Gilbert
“I don’t know how many of these kids are alive today. They may be part of the 6 000 kids they have killed up till today.” – Dr Mads Gilbert
The doctors, knowing they are going to be bombed, still stay with their patients. They are the real heroes of Gaza, says Gilbert.
"They are the real heros. I learn them. I don't go to teach them. I go there to show my medical solidarity. I work under their leadership. This is not a relief mission, this is a solidarity mission. This is not a difficult conflict, this is a difficult occupation." - Dr Mads Gilbert
This is how the operating room looked after one operation, says Gilbert. One can only imagine how it is now when they have to treat 28 000 injured individuals.
"I have learned more from my colleagues in Gaza than I did in my years in university, than my 50 years in medicine. These are my teachers." - Dr Mads Gilbert
Gilbert – “Gaza had to rely on 400 trucks per day before the seige. After the bombing, they are allowing 20 trucks. Before the trucks get to enter, the Israeli army go through every box. They take out everything they don’t want the Palestinians to have. I know from a very high ranking source, they take out all the anesthetic drugs they need. No doctor in Gaza is performing major surgery without general anaesthesia.”
"Gaza exists, Gaza resists and they will never give up their land." - Dr Mads Gilbert
"Gaza exists, Gaza resists and they will never give up their land." - Dr Mads Gilbert
“These two words, love and solidarity, I believe can change the world.” – Dr Mads Gilbert
A message from Dr Yousef Abu Al-Rish, Minister of Health in Gaza.
"I don't know if these fascists Israelis have killed him or not when they stormed Shifa." - Dr Mads Gilbert
The heartbreaking WhatsApp messages between Dr Mads Gilbert and Dr Yousef Abu Al-Rish.
The heartbreaking WhatsApp messages between Dr Mads Gilbert and Dr Yousef Abu Al-Rish.
"It is an occupational killing machine. They don't make a distinction between men, women and children. They just, kill, kill and kill." - Dr Mads Gilbert
Stats showing the attacks on health care between 8 October and 12 November.
"When was it ever defence to kill 6 000 children? When in history did anyone ever get away with it? This is Apartheid." - Dr Mads Gilbert
Stats showing the attacks on health care between 8 October and 12 November.
Stats showing the attacks on health care between 8 October and 12 November.
"We will rebuild Gaza! We will rebuild Gaza! We will donate money and we will rebuild! Building by building, hospital by hospital! They will never be able to erase Palestinian healthcare. I swear to God!"- Dr Mads Gilbert
Chief Mandla Mandela takes to the stage urging the crowd to passionately chant, “Free, Free Palestine. From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free. Viva the Palestine Resistance, Viva.”
Mandela – “With each passing day we continue to support Palestine. The death toll now stands just under 13 000 people, 27 000 people injured and 1.6 million are displaced. On average 1 child is killed and 3 are injured every 10 minutes. Almost 200 medics, 102 UN staff and 41 journalists have also been killed. While dozens of families have been wiped out.”
Mandela – “We call on the ANC government to immediately expel the Israeli Ambassador. Our govemrent has to show true commitment in what we seek. Everyday the national airline of the Zionist Aparthied State of Israel flys into south Africa. It is enabled to do so by the Department of Transport. We call on the ANC government to not allow the Zionist Apartheid state of Israel into the republic. Talk is cheap it is time for action… It is easy to stand here and say we stand with Gaza. Talk is cheap. It is time for action. We call on our government to act. We call on an immediate embargo on arms sale, cultural trade and sports activities.”
Mandela also called for the prosecution of those South Africans fighting in the IDF and urged dock workers to refuse to unload any containers coming from Israel or going to Israel.
Dr Faisal Suliman was another guest speaker. He expressed his disgust at the way international media has portrayed and reported on the genocide in Gaza.
Suliman proposed five actions: 1. Register to vote to prevent pro-Israel parties from gaining power. 2. Utilise social media to pressure politicians supporting Israel and change the narrative on the ongoing genocide. 3. Boycott companies, like Clover, and others owned by Israel. 4. Participate in demonstrations to express support for Palestinians. 5. Donate to the Palestinian cause. Suliman emphasised that preventing pro-Israel parties from taking power is crucial to ensuring such events like this are allowed to happen.
“It is important for us today to say, no person with a conciseness can tolerate the brutality that we are observing in Palestine. In particular, the bombardement of Gaza. It is unacceptable and we condemn the Israeli army for their continued bombardment of hospitals and residential areas.” – Former Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize
The Former Health Minister was one of the guest speakers for the event. He called for the Israeli embassy to be shut down and expressed his solidarity with the people of Palestine.
“We, the people of South Africa, can identify with the people of Palestine. We understand their pain and their struggle. The bombardement has been targeting hospitals, residential areas. Of the 11 000 people that have been killed, 4 000 of them are children. We cannot, in good conscious sit back and watch.”
Mkhize – “When the war in Ukraine stsreted, there was a huge uproar in the world calling for the arrest of President Putin but in six weeks, 11 000 people have been killed. We tried to listen to those calls from the ICC but we are not hearing. We want to hear people call for sanctions against Israel as they did with Russia. We are not hearing it.”
Members of Abahlali chanting “Don’t cry Palestine, Don’t cry,” just before the event starts.
Dr Faisal Suliman, National Chariperson of SAMNET, explains the importance of these events. How they create a different level of awareness and allows a range of people to participate.
Pops Rampersad, an executive member of the Active Citizens Movement, asserts that there’s no difference between Apartheid South Africa and Israel. He emphasises the significance of hosting such events while stressing the need for additional actions.
Sbu Zikode, President of Abahlali base Mjondolo, explains why it is important for their organisation, their members to support the Palestinian cause.
Dr Lubna Nadvi calls for all of Durban to join them at a Palestine march happening tomorrow (18 November) at Florida Road and any other pro-Palestine event taking place.
Yasiera Suliman of the Caring Sisters Network (CSN) shares the effort invested in preparing the NMJ Hall in Durban.
Criticising the Israeli Government’s Attack on Al Shifa Hospital
Addressing the atrocities suffered by the Palestinians both preceding and during the Gaza war, Dr Gilbert conveyed his deep concern, emphasising that he could not fathom a more offensive assault on humanity than a military machine demolishing hospitals, vandalising equipment, and causing the death of thousands of civilians in the process.
“When you attack an MRI machine, an incubator and when you kill 6,000 children, the magnitude of that offence is a crime against all of us, all over the world … We may disagree and have different opinions. We may occupy each other, but you simply don’t do what they’re doing now. It is beyond comprehension.
“We’re Not Targeting Civilians”
This assertion is frequently voiced by Israeli officials, even as the toll of civilian casualties inflicted by Israeli forces continues to mount. The current count stands at nearly 12,000 civilian deaths, documented and broadcasted.
Nonetheless, Israeli officials and their allies persist in downplaying these figures, dismissing them as greatly exaggerated. Dr Gilbert, however, refutes their claims by stating…
“If you have 2.2 million people who are incarcerated in 360 km squared space with a population density higher than Singapore and Hong Kong, half of whom are children. You are bound to kill children and civilians as part of your technique.”
Zionists Will Not Be Supported in South Africa’s Name
This past Sunday, a gathering of Christian Israeli supporters convened at Sea Point for a prayer session in support of Israel. Nevertheless, their assembly encountered a sizable opposition from Palestinian supporters who opposed the event due to the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Reacting to this situation, Chief Mandla expressed that, as South Africans, it is imperative not to let a minority advocating for genocide and apartheid become the representative voice of the country.
“There, we refused for the Zionist flag to be flown in our country. This we will do each and every day, every week and every month.”
