South African Minister Mandela calls for Israel’s exclusion from Paris 2024 Olympics
South African National Assembly member Mandela calls for Israel’s exclusion from the Paris Olympics in a panel titled “The Unilateral Application of International Law: The Importance of the Olympic Games” at the University of Geneva
South African National Assembly member Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela has called for the exclusion of Israel from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and urged activists worldwide to support this call.
Mandela’s appeal came during a panel titled “The Unilateral Application of International Law: The Importance of the Olympic Games,” held at the University of Geneva.
The event was organized by the Geneva Institute for Research and Development in collaboration with the Muslim Students Association, the Turkish Students Association, and the Arab World Association at the University of Geneva.
The panel, attended by Mandela, the grandson of South Africa’s first democratically elected Black president, Nelson Mandela, began with a moment of silence for the Palestinians who have lost their lives in Gaza since Israel’s intensified attacks on Oct. 7, 2023.
Mandela reminded attendees of his visit to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, the previous day, stating, “We join the voices of millions around the world calling for Israel to be expelled from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.” He emphasized that there is no place for “genocide” in the Olympics and expressed encouragement from the global youth movement demanding action against Israel’s actions.
Mandela called on all activists to support efforts to ban Israel from the Olympics and urged FIFA to also consider excluding Israel from competitions until the ongoing genocide ends and a ceasefire is achieved.
“Support for the Palestinian Cause”
Mandela criticized Israel’s continued attacks on nearly one million innocent Palestinians trapped in refugee camps in Rafah, southern Gaza. He pointed out that Israel continues to deprive the people of Gaza of humanitarian aid, water, medicine, and electricity.
“We continue to call on all nations to support and show solidarity with the Palestinian cause,” Mandela said. He criticized governments for not being effective enough in breaking the blockade on Gaza and expressed the determination of civil society organizations and humanitarian workers to lift the blockade.
Mandela highlighted the significance of global student protests on university campuses in support of Palestine, urging immediate ceasefire and an end to genocide. “Young people around the world are challenging the status quo. They are demanding an end to the lies and propaganda in mainstream media. The world has awakened to Israel’s brutal acts of genocide. We must continue to raise awareness and participate in solidarity actions with the Palestinian people,” he stated.
Following his speech, Mandela answered questions from students. Other speakers at the panel addressed the recent developments in Gaza and reiterated the call for Israel’s exclusion from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Source: AA
