South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP) stands in solidarity with The Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest ever civilian maritime mission challenging Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza. We are proud to note that nine South Africans, including SAJFP’s Jared Sacks, will be joining this historic protest, and that SAJFP member, Jo Bluen, will be documenting problems the flotilla faces and providing legal and political human rights analysis from on board the legal support boat that will accompany it.
The flotilla aims to break Israel’s siege through strategic, nonviolent direct action, while keeping Gaza on the world’s agenda. This as the world remains silent and governments consistently refuse to take meaningful and direct action against Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, or its proposed annexation of the West Bank.
While activists have been trying to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza through setting sail via flotillas for over a decade, this time sees a civilian-led coalition of 50 boats representing 44 countries, attempt to breach the blockade at sea, bringing humanitarian supplies such as baby formula, antibiotics, bandages, and staple foods, directly to a people being deliberately starved. This will take place in coordination with land convoys, protests, and other international campaigns.
As South Africans, our participation takes our principled stance against Israeli apartheid and genocide from the courtrooms of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to the open waters. This mission tests whether the blockade will again choke civilian access in violation of international law and explicit ICJ orders.
SAJFP’s support for the Flotilla is rooted in our core values as Jews and as a movement, which include advocating for anti-Zionism as a form of anti-racism, rejecting the conflation of Judaism with the Israeli state, and
challenging Israeli apartheid, a system that stands in direct contradiction with the values underpinning authentic Judaism.
“This effort is closely aligned with the recent provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice… which specifically require Israel to enable the provision of urgently needed humanitarian assistance into Gaza without hindrance,” said Firoza Mayet of the South African Palestine Solidarity Alliance (PSA). “We cannot remain silent in the face of such impunity.”
For SAJFP member Jared Sacks, this is a second attempt to answer Palestine’s call after travelling to Egypt in June for attempting to join the Global March to Gaza. His participation reflects a Jewish tradition that stands for justice and the belief that safety can never be built on oppression.
Reflecting on that experience, which saw Egypt blocking activists from entering Gaza, Jared stated, “Although it did not have the greatest prospects of success, we had to do it. We had to try. And what became clear was just how far Egypt will go to protect Israel and to protect United States interests in the region… To the point of abducting and beating-up humanitarian activists from around the globe. It clarified where Egypt stands.”
Sacks adds that his current participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla, as well as that of his fellow South Africans, is rooted in the country’s past. Significantly, one member of the South African delegation is Mandla Mandela, the grandson of South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
“We are all committed partly because of apartheid, its legacy and our deeply rooted connection to the Palestinian people,” said Sacks,
highlighting the significance of this first all-South African contingent, as well as the fact that despite South Africa’s case at the ICJ, the country is still not doing enough. For example, it remains the third largest exporter of coal to Israel, primarily through the Swiss company, Glencore. “We can never rely on governments to do what we want; we always have to fight for it as regular people.”
SAJFP’s Jo Bluen, meanwhile, will be doing vital work on board the legal support boat that will accompany the Global Sumud Flotilla. This consists of a group of lawyers and academics who are appalled at the ongoing genocide in Gaza. “We are sailing alongside the Global Sumud Flotilla to provide legal support by documenting any illegal acts that may occur and by providing real-time political, legal and human rights analysis to amplify the mission,” the legal support group said in a statement. “Our mission is to bear witness to this historic action and to demand accountability and meaningful action from governments.”
We call on the South African government and the international community to publicly support the flotilla’s right to safe passage and to demand that Israel not intercept these unarmed civilian vessels. We are proud that two of our members, and our country, are represented among those taking essential aid to Gaza and taking direct action against Zionist impunity.
We stand in solidarity with the struggle for complete Palestinian freedom. A luta continua!
Contact SAJFP: [email protected]