TEHRAN – In a statement, Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, a member of parliament in South Africa, the chief of the Mvezo Traditional Council and the grandson of Nelson Mandela, has urged the international community to address the humanitarian crisis and injustice in Gaza.

The call, issued during the Tehran International Conference on Palestine, carried a resounding message of solidarity with the resistance fighters in Gaza, stressing the importance of providing unwavering support for the Palestinians across the globe.

Chief Mandela emphasized the ongoing ICC investigation and the commitment to end impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Palestine. “South Africa, alongside like-minded States Parties, jointly referred the Palestinian situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging immediate attention to the dire circumstances,” he added. 

The chief made a plea to all members of the conference, the broader Muslim world, individuals of all faiths, and those with no religious affiliations, as well as organizations like the Non-Aligned Movement and the African Union. The collective call is for a permanent ceasefire and the immediate opening of global and humanitarian aid channels to alleviate the crisis in Gaza and all of occupied Palestine.

Aligning with the global icon Nelson Mandela, who believed the Palestinian struggle to be “the greatest moral issue of our time,” the chief underscored the urgent need for collective action to address the escalating humanitarian crisis in the region. 

The Tehran International Conference on Palestine took place in Iran’s capital on Saturday, attended by representatives from over 50 countries. Hosted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the event focused on the latest developments in occupied Palestine. The conference was a means of exploring avenues for an immediate halt to the crimes committed in Palestine.

MAS