FROM THE BLOG

At a press briefing calling for the implementation of a ceasefire in Gaza, Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela called on South Africa’s government to ban Israel’s national airline from flying to Johannesburg, to close the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria, and stop supplying coal to Israel.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, called on the South African government to reinstate Naledi Pandor to her position as Minister of International Relations.

Speaking from Italy, Dr Tanya Haj-Hassan, a paediatrician and Doctors Without Borders’ spokesperson on Gaza, accused Israel of the systemic targeting of hospitals and health care workers, saying doctors released from Israeli detention related being tortured, sexually assaulted and told that they are “the scum of the earth”.

Speaking from Germany, Reverend Mpho Tutu-Van Furth said that her father had battled serious illnesses throughout his life, and lived to the age of 90 because of the care he received from doctors. Had Archbishop Tutu been born in Gaza, he would unlikely have survived to adulthood, she said.

Former member of South Africa’s liberation movement and retired Constitutional Court Judge, Albie Sachs, said he was proud to be a member of the Jewish faith. “If anyone has a particular hatred of oppression it should be the Jews,” he said. He said South Africa’s lesson of forging peace depended on enemies speaking to each other, and that this applied to Israel and Palestine, too.

In a letter read out at the event, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Makgoba said: “Israel and Hamas must accept the (UN) resolution (for a ceasefire) immediately and unconditionally, failing which all who supply them with weapons must apply a comprehensive arms embargo against them.

“The future of Israel and the security of its people lie only through achieving justice for the Palestinians.”

The briefing was moderated by Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Chairperson of the Archbishop Tutu IP Trust, and Ms Janet Jobson, CEO of the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation.