South Africa's camaraderie with Palestine goes way back in time

South Africa’s enduring backing of the Palestinian people dates back to the era of Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat.

Just two weeks after his February 1990 release from prison, Nelson Mandela flew to Zambia to meet with African leaders who had supported his anti-apartheid struggle.

The who-is-who of leaders sympathetic to the Africa National Congress (ANC) cause, from Zambia’s Kenneth Kaunda to Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe, greeted the anti-apartheid leader with smiles and handshakes.

In a deeply emotional embrace, Yasser Arafat, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, wrapped his trademark keffiyeh around his head and pulled Nelson Mandela’s face down towards him. Arafat kissed him on each cheek, and Madiba reciprocated with a broad smile.

This moment affirmed the solidarity between two men who viewed their peoples' quests for freedom as intertwined struggles.

South African anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela in Zambia to attend a meeting of the ANC National Executive Committee, warmly greets PLO leader Yasser Arafat on his arrival in Lusaka, Feb. 27, 1990. (Photo: Philip Littleton/AFP/Getty Images)

Yasser’s Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) had been a resolute supporter of Mandela’s struggle against white minority rule and many South Africans saw parallels between it and the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation.

Mandela would later, after three months, show his support for the Palestinian cause by attending a summit in Algeria donning the Palestinian keffiyeh, popularly known in Kenya by those who wear it as Arafat.

It is argued by scholars and historians that Mandela felt a special bond with the Palestinian people. In 1997, while still president of South Africa, he said the ANC’s struggle was ongoing.

“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,” he said.

Despite being geographically distant from the conflict, South Africa continues to rally behind the Palestinian cause, even taking the extraordinary step of pursuing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over its actions in Gaza.

Pretoria's envoy to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela presenting South Africa's case to the International Court of Justice. (Photo: ICJ)

South Africa’s ruling ANC, guided by its anti-apartheid roots and the Mandela legacy, maintains a steadfast pro-Palestinian position, remaining committed to advocating for justice in the Middle East region.

“Apartheid state”

South Africa has consistently criticised Israel as an “apartheid state”, even before the current war.

Ronald Lamola (centre), Minister of Justice of South Africa, and Vusimuzi Madonsela (right), South African Ambassador to the Netherlands, at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) prior to the hearing of the genocide case against Israel through South Africa. (Photo by REMKO DE WAAL / ANP MAG / ANP via AFP)

In a landmark ruling in late January, the International Court of Justice ordered that Israel must take action to protect human life in Gaza, siding with South Africa which accused Israel of committing genocide in the territory, while stopping short of demanding a ceasefire.

Pretoria accused Israel of genocide on December 29, three months after the conflict started.

Senior Hamas officials in December last year joined the family of Nelson Mandela to mark the 10th anniversary of his death and cast the spotlight on the Israel-Hamas war.

Recently, players of the Palestine national football team thanked South Africans for supporting their liberation struggle and hosting them for the friendly Football for Humanity game played in February in Cape Town.

“Thank you to South Africa, the president and the people. We are very happy to support Palestine,” Mus’ab Al Battat, the team’s captain, told Ankara-based Anadolu news agency in a short interview.

South Africa recalled all of its diplomats from Tel Aviv following Israel’s intense air strikes on Gaza last year.