Johnathan Paoli
The EFF has commended the stance taken by International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor, that citizens fighting in the Israeli occupation armed forces or aligning with them in Gaza will face arrest upon their return home.
EFF National Spokesperson Sinawo Thambo issued a statement on Thursday and said that Minister Pandor’s decision to act against South African citizens participating in foreign conflicts without proper authorisation was in line with the laws of the country.
In terms of the Regulation of the Foreign Military Assistance Act, 1998 (Act No. 15 of 1998), any person wishing to render foreign military assistance in Israel must first apply to the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) who will make a recommendation to the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans that such an application be granted or refused.
“The EFF, therefore, stands in solidarity with South Africa’s decision to hold accountable those who engage in actions that violate international law and perpetuate human suffering. We have stood, and will continue to stand with Palestine and continue to fight for their liberation,” Thambo said.
The spokesperson said in light of the increasing aggressive behaviors of Israeli citizens in impeding humanitarian aid to the people in the region, in addition to the continuing support of Israeli military action by the US, it remained deplorable for South Africans to assist, especially without prior authorisation.
Thambo said following the ICJ ruling, Israel has refused to report back and has chosen to continue with their violent assault upon the people of Palestine, while the western countries look on.
Whilst praising the action by Pandor, Thambo said the party called upon President Cyril Ramaphosa to follow through with the draft resolution tabled by EFF President Julius Malema in November last year, to expel the Israeli ambassador from the country.
“The resolution was adopted with a majority and remains to be enacted by the President. In this way, we will continue to send a message to Apartheid Israel that we will not stop fighting until they end their occupation of Palestine,” Thambo said.
Currently the toll of the conflict stands at more than 31,300 Palestinians having perished since October 7, with a 70% comprising women and children, whilst over 73,000 have suffered injuries, with 85% of Gaza’s populace being thrust into internal displacement, grappling with severe shortages of vital resources such as food, clean water, and medicine.
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