Ramaphosa calls for the release of South Africans abducted by Israel
President Ramaphosa condemns Israel's abduction of activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla.
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the Israeli government to immediately release South Africans and other nationals detained after Israeli naval forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters off Gaza.
The flotilla, comprising dozens of humanitarian vessels, was on a mission to deliver aid to Palestinians living under blockade. In a strongly worded statement, President Ramaphosa condemned Israel's actions.
"The interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla is another grave offence by Israel of global solidarity and sentiment that is aimed at relieving suffering in Gaza and advancing peace in the region," Ramaphosa said.
Author and activist Zukiswa Wanner, a South African citizen currently based in Kenya, had recorded a video before the flotilla's interception, anticipating the possibility of detention.
"If you are watching this, it means I have been kidnapped by the Israeli occupying forces and taken to Israel," she said. "Please tell the South African government to get me released. Stop the genocide and the siege on Gaza. Free Palestine."
Another South African activist, Basheerah Soomar, confirmed that her boat had diverted to Cyprus, Greece rather than continue into the Israeli interception zone.
"A few hours ago, we had to divert from the fleet. We have a few vulnerable people on board that would have been quite aggressively targeted by the Israeli forces, and we knew that from the start. We were going to proceed with the fleet if we had been protected in international waters and if we would have been allowed safe passage to deliver humanitarian aid," she said.
Ramaphosa stressed that the operation constituted a violation of international law.
"The interception of the flotilla in international waters is contrary to international law and violates the sovereignty of every nation whose flag was flown on the dozens of vessels in the flotilla. This action also violates an International Court of Justice injunction that humanitarian aid must be allowed to flow unimpeded."
He also called on Israel to ensure that the aid carried by the flotilla is delivered to Gaza. "South Africa calls on Israel to ensure that the life-saving cargo transported by this flotilla reaches the people of Gaza, as the flotilla represents solidarity with Gaza, not confrontation with Israel," he said.
The president reaffirmed South Africa's support for international appeals to end the blockade
"South Africa supports the call by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for Israel to urgently lift the blockade on Gaza and allow the entry of life-saving material through all means possible."
Nkosi Zwelivelile 'Mandla' Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, had also prerecorded a message in anticipation of possible interception.
"I'm a citizen of the Republic of South Africa. If you are receiving this video, it means that we have been intercepted and have been abducted by the state of apartheid Israel," he said. "I call you to request our government to exert pressure for my immediate release."
Ramaphosa said his thoughts were with the detained activists and their families, stressing that their abduction undermines efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.
He insisted that Israel has no justification for detaining civilians engaged in a humanitarian mission and urged that they be freed without delay.
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