Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s humanitarian mission to the Gaza Strip has been supported by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, media reported.
The Palestinians' right to self-determination is of great importance to South Africans, who are unwavering in their support for the Palestine, Ramaphosa said, adding that this approach goes in line with the legacy of the country's first President Nelson Mandela.
Freedom Flotilla ship, bringing aid to Gaza, may be stopped from sailing by Israel, which will try to do so by all means, Mandla Mandela, the grandson of South Africa’s first Black President Nelson Mandela, said, noting that with international support, the delivery of aid to Gaza can still be secured.
"We call on the South African government to enable the Freedom Flotilla to fly the South African flag and ensure that the International Court of Justice’s ruling that has ordered the humanitarian aid to be able to flow freely into Gaza is not prevented by the Zionist entity," he said.
"We are never going to turn back from supporting the cause of the Palestinians be sure about that," Mandla Mandela added.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel and breached the border, attacking both civilian neighborhoods and military bases. Nearly 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted during the attack, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 34,700 people have been killed so far by Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip, according to local authorities. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.