The ongoing genocide in Gaza constitutes a “daily Sharpeville massacre,” according to prominent Palestinian-American journalist and analyst Ali Abunimah. Speaking during a panel discussion on Salaamedia, Abunimah presented a harrowing comparison between the current death toll in Palestine and the infamous 1960 massacre in South Africa, a pivotal event in the struggle against apartheid.
Abunimah, the director of the publication Electronic Intifada, argued that the scale of killing in Gaza has reached an unprecedented level, creating a parallel to one of South Africa’s darkest historical moments. “During this 12-day Israeli war against Iran, Israel killed almost 900 Palestinians in Gaza, so close to 100 Palestinians a day,” he stated. “That’s a Sharpeville massacre every day and it’s been going on for 20 months now.”
The original Sharpeville massacre, which occurred on 21 March 1960, saw apartheid police open fire on a crowd of unarmed protestors who had gathered to demonstrate against the oppressive pass laws. The police killed 69 people and injured over 180, with many shot in the back as they tried to flee. The event sent shockwaves globally and became a symbol of the brutality of the apartheid regime.
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A Call for International Responsibility
In his address, Abunimah framed the situation in Gaza not only as a humanitarian catastrophe but as a profound moral and legal failure of the international community. He described the events as “the Holocaust of our time,” urging a global response. “All of us individually and as communities need to be shouting from the rooftops all day long to stop this genocide and to press our governments to do everything they can,” he implored.
He specifically pointed to the legal obligations of nations under international law. “They have obligations under the Genocide Convention. It’s not voluntary. When you ratify the Genocide Convention, it is compulsory you undertake to do everything possible to prevent and punish genocide.”
Abunimah praised South Africa for its leadership in bringing a case against Israel to the International Court of Justice but called for more decisive action. “I would like to see South Africa rallying the entire African continent… to impose sanctions on Israel, to expel its embassies, to really take strong action,” he said. He argued that such measures are vital because the crisis is “absolutely destroying any sense of international law and world order, and that is a mortal threat to everyone on this planet.”
The journalist also contended that the United States holds the ultimate power to halt the violence. “The moment the United States decides to end this genocide in Gaza, that’s when it will stop,” Abunimah asserted, referencing an instance where he claimed former President Trump ordered Israeli fighter jets to turn back from an attack on Tehran.
As ceasefire talks are reportedly set to resume, Abunimah’s comparison of the Gaza crisis to a daily Sharpeville massacre serves as a powerful call to action, framing the conflict in a historical context that resonates deeply, particularly in South Africa.
Image: Ali Abunimah. Credit: Don J. Usner
