In his speech during the 79th United Nations General Assembly, President Cyril Ramaphosa used the apartheid analogy in condemning the treatment of Palestine by Israel and the need for global powers to act. The President also denounced Israel’s Armenophobia, which he described as a collective punishment to all Palestinians due to an attack perpetrated by Hamas, which left 1,200 dead and hostages taken.
“Apartheid in South Africa is firsthand knowledge for us,” said the President. “It is an era that we have survived. It is an era many endured pain and even perished. We will not be passive spectators as other people suffer such injustices.”
The leader of South Africa pitched in with other leaders in demanding an immediate ceasefire, release of the hostages, and a two-state solution with Israel and Palestine, the latter having its capital in East Jerusalem.
Additionally, the President of South Africa pointed out that the UN Security Council does not have Africa in itself, yet it has 1.4 billion people.