Free Palestine Movement is Racist
As South Africans, we must be careful not to allow our historical struggles to be weaponised for causes that do not serve our best interests.
Written By: Klaas Mokgomole
In South Africa, where the fight for justice is deeply ingrained in our history, it has become all too easy to jump on the bandwagon of trendy causes. Among the most popular is the “Free Palestine” movement, a slogan chanted on campuses, painted on placards, and hashtagged across social media. But before we get swept up in the tides of global activism, we need to ask some critical questions: Who is driving this movement? And what are they truly fighting for?
What is alarming is how quickly the “Free Palestine” cause has been co-opted by radical Islamists who, at best, ignore the struggles of Black Africans, and at worst, perpetuate their oppression. We see it in the Palestinian Solidarity Committee and other groups led by individuals whose ideologies are far removed from the pursuit of genuine liberation for all people.
Let us take a closer look. How can these so-called activists, many of whom claim to fight against apartheid and colonialism, remain silent when it comes to the suffering of Black people around the world? Why are we, as Black South Africans, investing our energy into movements that ignore the real genocide, slavery, and violent persecution happening on the African continent?
It is hard to ignore the hypocrisy when we look at the record of some of the groups behind the “Free Palestine” movement. Take, for example, Hamas; a terrorist group that is not just complicit in violence against Israelis, but has also targeted African students, including the tragic murders of Joshua Mollel and Clemence Mtenga, two Tanzanian students studying Agriculture from one of the best institutions in Israel. They were killed by Hamas terrorists in a senseless act of terror. And yet, where is the outcry from the leaders of these movements? Where is the demand for justice for these Black students? Instead, the leaders in the “Free Palestine” movement actually applaud and shout praises for Hamas. I remember seeing pro-Palestine students at the University of Cape Town proudly saying “We are Hamas.”, “We will repeat October 7.”, “Rape is resistance.” and other very disgusting phrases.
But it does not stop there. Radical Islam, which some of these groups align with, is not some distant historical threat; it is a real danger to Black Africans today. In Nigeria, Christian communities are being slaughtered by Boko Haram and other Islamist militias with ties to global jihadist networks. These same groups claim that their violent actions are part of a global “Islamic resistance”, yet when it comes to Black lives being lost in this conflict, there is no hashtag, no march, no international protest.
Let us talk about Mauritania, where slavery is still practised in the 21st century. Thousands of Black Mauritanians live in conditions that are indistinguishable from the slavery of the past. And while the “Free Palestine” movement rallies behind a cause that ignores these Black struggles, they are also not telling us that the radical Islamists are enslaving Africans today. Yet, where is the outrage over this? Where are the voices calling for justice for Black Africans under Islamic rule?
This, to me, is the true face of the “Free Palestine” movement. It is not about liberation for all, however, it is about furthering the agenda of radical groups that do not care for Black people. It is a movement that uses catchy slogans like “apartheid” and “colonialism” to hook Black people into a narrative that serves someone else’s interests, while turning a blind eye to the violence and racism within their own ranks.
It is disheartening to see young South Africans, especially students, rally behind this cause without fully understanding the implications. We do not see the same energy put into fighting the very real issues affecting Black people today. Issues like the ongoing genocide in Nigeria, or the horrors of modern-day slavery in Mauritania. Why is there no outcry for these Black lives? Why do we only see the “Free Palestine” movement being used to garner sympathy while ignoring the suffering of Africans? I remember vividly in 2017, Africans for Peace, together with other organisations, hosted a march in Pretoria to the Union Buildings to demand action against the slavery being practiced by radical Islamists in Libya. Notably, none of the leaders of the “Free Palestine” movement condemned the slavery taking place in Libya.
As South Africans, we must be careful not to allow our historical struggles to be weaponised for causes that do not serve our best interests. We must ask questions before we pledge our support: Who are we really standing with? What are we truly supporting? Is this a movement that values all lives, or just some?
Do not fall into the trap of blind solidarity. True justice does not selectively protect people based on geography or religion. We must stand for the freedom of all those who are really oppressed, including our own. We cannot afford to be pawns in someone else’s political game. Before you raise your fist or join a protest, ask yourself: Whose freedom are we fighting for, and at what cost to Black lives? The struggle for liberation is universal. Always remember to think critically and take an educated approach.
Klaas Mokgomole Coordinates Africans for Peace, an organisation of a collective of independent students, scholars and activists who bring an African lens to the global debate on peace and stability on our continent and around the world.