South Africa’s former FM calls for comprehensive action regarding Palestine

South Africa's former Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor emphasized on Monday that mere protests were insufficient in addressing the Palestinian crisis, calling for urgent and comprehensive intervention from global powers to tackle the Gaza's humanitarian crisis. Speaking at the 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilization in Malaysia, Pandor said that people should be horrified by what was happening to the Palestinians, who have been occupied and controlled by Israel for many decades. She highlighted the need for action beyond protest, urging countries to leverage their economic power to effect change. "We do not use our economic power to show our disdain for what is happening to the people of Palestine" Pandor said, "One of the powers we have is our consumer power. We need to use that effectively. We need to consider boycotts and sanctions because mere protest is not enough," she added. Pandor argued that impacting Israel's economy could draw the attention of its primary supporters and emphasiz ed the importance of principled action, "When you have great principles and values, they should drive our daily lives" she said. "You can't keep them as a secret resource. You must share them with the world and make them the driver of your actions in the interest of all humanity," she added. She further emphasized the need for constant international presence and activism, saying "For the people of Gaza, let us not be visible only sometimes. Let us be visible all the time. The struggle of Gaza is not over when we protest; it is over when the people of Palestine enjoy freedom, justice and self-determination." The conference also featured former Indonesian Vice President Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, who noted that 60% of conflicts over the past decade have occurred in Islamic countries, citing Afghanistan, Yemen, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Palestine, and Sudan as examples. Kalla pointed to inequality, ideology, and poverty as root causes of these conflicts and stressed the need for comprehensive solutions. Former Singapor e Foreign Minister George Yeo Yong-Boon also spoke at the conference, highlighting Singapore's religious diversity as a strength rather than a problem. Professor Fawaz Gerges, Former director of London School of Economics and Political Science, praised South Africa's stance, emphasizing the country's support for international humanitarian law rather than specific political groups. "South Africa is not about supporting Hamas or being anti-Israel. It is about supporting international humanitarian law. It is about the right to protection; it is about humanity," Gerges said. The 7th World Conference on Islamic Thought and Civilization is being held in Ipoh, Malaysia, from July 29 to 31, with speakers from 21 countries, the conference provides a platform for regional and international leaders, scholars, intellectuals, professionals, and the public to express, exchange, and discuss ideas to address contemporary issues affecting the world today. Source: Kuwait News Agency