As the Executive Director of the Peace Economy Project, I recently had the privilege of attending a pivotal webinar organized by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) titled “What’s Apartheid Got to Do with it? Understanding the Violent Structures Behind Israel’s War on Gaza.” Held on March 14, 2024, this event provided a deep dive into the complexities and injustices faced by Palestinians in Gaza, drawing a chilling comparison to the apartheid era in South Africa.
Noor Nabulsi of AFSC initiated the conversation with a technical definition of apartheid, underscoring it as a systematic effort to segregate and create disparity between distinct groups of people. This foundation set the stage for a broader discussion led by Ahmed Abofoul of Al-Haq and Dianna Buttu, lawyer and analyst, who vividly depicted the dire circumstances under which Palestinians live in Gaza.
The restrictions imposed on many Palestinians, notably their inability to travel to the West Bank, epitomize the severe constraints on their freedom and autonomy. Ahmed Abofoul’s poignant remark, “Every minute that passes without stopping this bloodbath is a stain on humanity,” echoes an urgent call for global awareness and action. It underscores the immediate and pressing nature of the violence that continues to unfold, marking not just a regional but a human tragedy.
Dianna Buttu’s analysis further illuminated the dynamics at play, stating, “Israelis have set up a system in which they are superior and the Palestinians are inferior.” This assertion brings to the forefront the ingrained systemic inequalities that define the current situation, drawing a parallel to the historical context of apartheid in South Africa.
South Africa’s apartheid, a legally codified system of racial segregation and discrimination enforced by the National Party government between 1948 and 1994, shares disturbing similarities with what is currently being witnessed in Gaza. Both scenarios involve the systemic, institutionalized oppression of a group of people based on ethnicity or race, aimed at maintaining the dominance of another group.
In South Africa, apartheid manifested through laws that controlled the movement of Black South Africans, restricted their access to education, employment, and resources, and denied them political rights. Similarly, the situation in Gaza is characterized by severe movement restrictions, economic blockades, and discriminatory policies that perpetuate a cycle of poverty, deprivation, and conflict. The parallels extend to the international community’s role in both contexts, where global action (or the lack thereof) has profound implications for peace, justice, and human rights.
The webinar “What’s Apartheid Got to Do with it?” serves as a critical reminder of the ongoing struggles faced by Palestinians in Gaza and the importance of understanding and addressing the root causes of such conflicts. It challenges us to reflect on the lessons learned from South Africa’s apartheid era and the necessity of international solidarity and intervention to dismantle systems of oppression and inequality.
As we move forward, it is imperative that we, as a global community, commit to advocating for peace, justice, and equality. The experiences shared during the webinar underscore the urgency of addressing the conditions in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict through informed dialogue, policy, and action that uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals.
In solidarity,
Katerina Canyon
Executive Director, Peace Economy Project
