RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories: Dozens of Palestinians gathered Wednesday in front of the statue of Nelson Mandela in the occupied West Bank to thank South Africa for bringing a “genocide” case against Israel over its bombardment of Gaza.
The crowd waved Palestinian flags, listened to speeches and held signs saying “Stop the genocide” and “Thank you South Africa.”
Hearings at the UN’s top court will begin on Thursday with South Africa hoping the judges will compel Israel to halt its bombardment.
“It’s very important to show appreciation to the people who understand our pain,” Ramallah mayor Issa Kassis told after addressing the crowd.
“We feel that South Africa listens to our heart.”
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has long supported the Palestinian cause, often linking it to its own struggle against the apartheid government, which had cooperative relations with Israel.
Mandela famously said South Africa’s freedom would be “incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”
