Local – ANC MP and Secretary General of United for Palestine, Imraan Subrathie, is calling on the South African government to take urgent, concrete action in response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Speaking to Salaamedia, Subrathie outlined three key demands: full economic and diplomatic sanctions against Israel, mobilisation of global accountability through the African Union and United Nations, and formal recognition of the state of Palestine.
More than 61,000 Palestinians, including 17,000 children, have been killed by Israeli forces. Starvation is being used as a weapon of war, with humanitarian aid blocked and health workers left without food. Subrathie said the scale of the atrocity demands urgent intervention.
“The genocidal force that is plying its trade without impunity has to stop. One child is killed every ten minutes. Even hospital staff no longer have food. If you get a meal once every three days, you are lucky.”
He praised President Ramaphosa’s recent speech in Parliament for taking a strong moral stance, noting that the president had spoken out despite the country’s economic pressures. However, he emphasised that solidarity statements are no longer enough.
“We must commend the president. He was not shy to dedicate at least four to five lines of his speech showing our continued solidarity with the people of Palestine. He went so far as to say that it’s an absolute shame to world leaders that a genocide is taking place before us.”
Economic impact on ordinary South Africans
In response to fears that sanctions might damage South Africa’s economy, Subrathie urged people to consider the cost of inaction.
“The concerns of ordinary South Africans are very real and very valid. But how are we going to explain to our grandchildren that while the genocide in Gaza was taking place, we only supported the legal case—yet continued trading with Israel?”
He argued that ongoing trade enables genocide, both through direct funding and indirect economic support. History will judge South Africa not only for what it said, but for what it chose not to do.
While economic pressure may come at a cost, the country’s own liberation history demands it stand with Palestine in both word and action. “We know too well that our freedom is not complete without the freedom of Palestine.”
