Mandla Mandela, the grandson of South Africa’s late anti-apartheid icon and former president Nelson Mandela, arrived in Johannesburg on Wednesday after being detained and deported by Israel.
He was among several activists aboard a Gaza aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces last week.
Mandela, 51, returned home alongside four other South Africans after spending six days in an Israeli prison. The group was released through Jordan following diplomatic intervention by South African authorities.
“We were handcuffed with cable ties tightly behind our backs, taken off our boats, put on the platform and paraded for all to see,” Mandela told reporters at O.R. Tambo International Airport, where he was received by supporters waving Palestinian flags.
“But it’s nothing compared to what Palestinians have been subjected to on a daily basis,” he added, condemning Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The flotilla, carrying international activists and humanitarian supplies, was en route to Gaza when it was intercepted by Israeli naval forces.
Israel described the convoy as a “publicity stunt” designed to benefit Hamas and dismissed allegations of abuse against those detained, which included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Israeli authorities have also denied accusations of mistreatment, saying detainees were handled in accordance with international law. However, several participants have reported harsh conditions and degrading treatment during their detention.
Mandela has long been an outspoken critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, frequently drawing parallels between South Africa’s apartheid era and Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
Israel’s blockade and military operations in Gaza have come under mounting global scrutiny, with aid groups warning of severe humanitarian conditions.
While Israel maintains that reports of starvation are exaggerated, the United Nations and international relief agencies say the enclave faces one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Mandela vowed to continue advocating for Palestinian rights, saying his brief imprisonment had only strengthened his resolve. “Our struggle in solidarity with the people of Palestine will not stop,” he said.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
