By Simon Nare
The SA Palestine Solidarity Organisation, also known as SA BDS Coalition, has welcomed the Gaza ceasefire signed between Israel and Hamas. But it says that this should be the first step to permanently ensure occupation forces are removed from Gaza and the West Bank.
The organisation cautioned that another first step must be to ensure that the Israeli regime does not renege on the ceasefire deal.
The SA BDS Coalition said in welcoming the ceasefire that it joined the people of Gaza in the hope that the move would provide respite from over 15 months of the “genocidal” Israel regime’s terror against the Palestinian people which has claimed the lives of 46,000 people.
“A ceasefire, however, is only the most important first step to end the genocide against the 2.3 million Palestinians in the illegally occupied and besieged Gaza Strip.
“Without massive pressure, it may constitute a continuation of a less visible form of genocide that Israel and the US will hope to provoke less global outrage, boycotts and sanctions,” it said a statement.
If the truce is approved, it will take effect on Sunday. The Israeli cabinet is yet to vote on the deal.
The Israeli military has reportedly stepped up attacks on the Gaza Strip as the cabinet prepares to vote on the deal, killing 40 Palestinians.
SA BDS Coalition said now more than never and most urgently, pressure must be mounted to ensure that Israel completely ended its occupation and settler colonialism.
It added that Israel’s unparalleled impunity was what allowed it to maintain its 76-year-old regime of settler-colonialism and apartheid and emboldened it to unleash the world’s first livestreamed genocide.
“Israel is a threat to humanity. Most nations today see Israel as a rogue genocidal state that openly defies international law. This genocide could not have occurred without the political and military support provided by the US, Germany, the UK and other European states. Since October 2023, the US has provided over $26 billion in armaments to Israel,” charged the organisation.
It demanded that:
• A ceasefire, while welcome, is not enough. A permanent ceasefire requires the occupation forces to leave Gaza and the West Bank.
• UNRWA must be supported and allowed unimpeded access to all Palestinians.
• Schools, universities, hospitals, homes and infrastructure must be reconstructed; reparations and compensation must be paid by those responsible for the genocide.
• Those who committed torture, rape and murder must be held accountable.
• The siege of Gaza must end.
• Journalists, healthcare workers and UN personnel tasked with collecting evidence of the genocide must have immediate access.
• The South African government must pursue the International Court of Justice case with renewed energy and should be at the forefront to reactivate the UN Special Committee against apartheid and suspend Israel from the UN General Assembly and other UN organs.
• Those South Africans who join the Israeli Occupation Forces must be prosecuted.
• South Africa must stop exporting coal to fuel genocide and the illegal occupation.
• South Africa should cut all diplomatic, trade, academic, sporting and cultural ties and promote sanctions to isolate the racist Israeli state until Palestine is free from the river to the sea.
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