The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says that although the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) did not reach Gaza, its mission was a success.
The party made the statement following the release of activists who were detained by Israeli forces after being intercepted in international waters.
Describing the GSF as a “noble humanitarian mission,” the EFF said the activists’ bravery and compassion represented “the highest form of human conscience and internationalism.”
EFF WELCOMES ACTIVISTS HOME
The EFF condemned the interception of the flotilla, calling it “a blatant act of piracy and defiance of international law.” The party said the mission had succeeded in amplifying global awareness of what it termed the genocide in Palestine.
“The GSF may have been intercepted, but its message has reached every corner of the world. We welcome home these brave South Africans and urge them to see this not as a failure, but as a victory in the ongoing liberation of Palestine,” the party said.
Among those arrested were former Member of Parliament Mandla Mandela, author Zukiswa Wanner, and activists Reaaz Moolla, Zaheer Soomar, Dr Fatima Hendricks, and Carrie Shelver. They claim they were subjected to inhumane treatment while detained by Israeli authorities.
“These South Africans and their fellow activists were unarmed humanitarians, carrying no weapons but moral conviction. Their abduction by Israel exposes once again the cruelty and lawlessness of a regime that continues to operate above the law, shielded by Western complicity and silence,” the EFF added.
The party praised the activists, saying their courage had strengthened the spirit of resistance in Gaza and reminded the world that the struggle for Palestinian freedom forms part of a broader global fight against oppression and injustice.
PARTY SLAMS RAMAPHOSA
The EFF also criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing the government of failing “to take a firm and moral stance against Israel’s aggression toward South African citizens.”
However, Ramaphosa had earlier called for the detainees’ immediate release and described the humanitarian mission as an act of solidarity with Palestine. The South African government has also taken Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over alleged crimes committed in Gaza.
