Nkosi Zwelivele Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, expressed his support for the call of the Lebanese Association of Democratic Lawyers, the Arab Lawyers Union and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers, calling for a ban on Israeli athletes from participating in the Paris Olympics, noting that at least thirty Apartheid Israel sportsmen have participated as soldiers in the massacre in Gaza.
A month ago we, along with the European Muslim Forum, initiated the call to ban Apartheid Israel from the Paris Olympics. We also called for Apartheid Israel to be completely expelled from the Olympic family and for all sports codes to follow suit. We repeat our call and call on all sports federations to join us in this call.
We support the action of the Lebanese Democratic Lawyers, the Union of Arab Lawyers and the International Association of Democratic Lawyers calling for ban of Apartheid Israel from the Paris Olympics as at least thirty Apartheid Israel sportsmen have participated as soldiers in the massacre in Gaza. This alone should be sufficient reason to ban Apartheid Israel from the Paris Olympics.
Lebanese activists have researched the matter and have been able to identify these 30 soldiers. We call on activists all over the world to raise public awareness of this situation and also to follow the lead in this campaign to present letters to the French authorities requesting that these people not be admitted to French soil.
This action is in some ways an extension of the action taken by the 300 Palestinian sportsmen and women and the action taken by French solidarity associations with Palestine and French political forces calling for Israel not to be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games. Emphasis will be laid on the obligations under international law for third states to take action to prevent continued genocide, crimes against humanity such as extermination and war crimes in Gaza, especially in the light of the decisions of the ICJ and the request of the Prosecutor of the ICC.
We wish to add our voice to this call and call for the culprits to be charged and arrested for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. We repeat our call on the South African government to arrest all who have participated in the genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
As we approach Nelson Mandela International Day and people compete with each other to do random acts of kindness, small or great acts of philanthropy and rededicate themselves to the universal human values that our global icon President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela advocated and sacrificed his life for its realisation.
The Palestinian struggle was very close to his heart and he used every opportunity to advance the goal of freedom, human rights and human dignity for all. It would have deeply pained him to see the condition of ordinary civilians in occupied Palestine, especially the genocide unfolding in Gaza.
It would be an extreme vexation to his spirit to witness innocent children being killed and dying of hunger and malnutrition in full view of the world.
I want to dedicate this Nelson Mandela International Day to the children of Gaza and call on freedom loving people all over the world to contribute by sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.
ENDS
Nkosi Zwelivelile
Royal House of Mandela
Mvezo Komkhulu
P.O. Box 126
Viedgesville 5102
Eastern Cape Province