Global South solidarity

As we experience a relief that is both deep and tentative at the current cessation of attacks on Gaza, ordinary citizens around the world need to keep up the pressure, wherever they can, for a permanent ceasefire, freedom and the establishment of an independent state for the people of Palestine.

In March 2024 Zukiswa Wanner, the South African writer and publisher, born in Zimbabwe and resident in Kenya, protested Germany’s continued support for the genocide in Palestine by returning the Goethe Medal she had received in 2020 for “outstanding services for international cultural relations”. The first African female recipient of one of the highest honours bestowed by the German government, her action symbolised the acts of solidarity by African individuals with the struggle for freedom in Palestine.

South Africa, with its brave and powerful case at the International Court of Justice, and Gift of the Givers the South African NGO working to provide life-saving relief in Palestine, are exemplary representatives of African and the Global South solidarity and the fight for justice for all.

But they are not alone. As Dr Shir Hever coordinator for the military embargo campaign of the Palestinian BDS movement points out, “People of the Global South remember what colonialism is about… (a settler colony built on stolen and ethnically cleansed land)”.

He explains that the military embargo, “which is an obligation under international law, ” is working, a crucial intervention in preventing further Palestinian deaths. Collective action is needed to keep the pressure up.

According to BDS, the weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems reports that their sales to the Global South have halved. Moreover, port workers in countries through which the U.S. tranships weapons to the genociders have, through their unions, begun to resist being implicated in illegal actions and are preventing shipments of arms.

Global South Solidarity Actions

BDS lists the following actions taken by Global South governments to implement the military embargo:

Brazil

Froze a contract to purchase artillery from Elbit Systems.

Chile

Banned Israeli arms companies from participating in the FIDAE aerospace arms fair. It has also ended a satellite programme with ImageSat International after relations soured in light of Chile’s support of Palestinian rights and the company’s failure to comply with its contract obligations.

Colombia

• Announced a military embargo.
• Opened an investigation into spyware used against Colombian civilians.
• Announced it is ending coal exports.

Malaysia

Blocked cargo ships owned by and bound for Israel from its territorial waters, disrupting the supply of some weapons and dual-use items to Israel.

Namibia

Refused port of call to a ship carrying explosives.

South Africa

• Does not supply military equipment.
• Several states, mostly from the Global South, have joined South Africa’s case at the ICJ.

Türkyie

• Imposed sanctions on exporting and transiting weapons and dual-use items in May 2024.
• On November 5th, Türkyie and 52 co-sponsoring mainly Global South states called for implementing an immediate military embargo. This call was adopted by the joint summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the League of Arab States – another indication of growing global political will to impose a military embargo in terms of international law.