As we mark the first anniversary of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, we mourn the horrific loss of more than 41,000 lives, with the overwhelming majority being women and children – innocent civilians who posed no military threat. The deliberate targeting and murder of vulnerable populations, especially children, is a profound violation of human dignity and an affront to the very principles of humanity. The psychological trauma inflicted on survivors is one of multiple tragic and enduring consequences of the genocide.
We stand in solidarity with African and global rights-based movements in unequivocally condemning the ongoing atrocities in Gaza. We call for immediate and just solutions that end the cycle of violence and oppression, rejecting the systemic dehumanisation of one group by another – an injustice South Africa has experienced firsthand under apartheid.
We urgently appeal to the international community to not remain silent or passive in the face of these atrocities. Now, more than ever, the global community is called to demand accountability, pursue peace, and protect the dignity and lives of the Palestinian people.