Main events on October 6th
- Indirect talks on ending Israel’s war on Gaza have started in Egypt but few details have emerged.
- Israeli attacks on Gaza continued across the enclave with at least 10 Palestinians, including aid seekers, killed since dawn.
- At least 104 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since Friday, the day US President Donald Trump called on Israel to halt its bombing campaign.
- Israel has deported 171 Global Sumud Flotilla activists, including Greta Thunberg. Lawyers say detainees from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla were mistreated and denied basic rights while in Israeli custody.
- President Trump said he believes there will be a Gaza deal soon, adding “tremendous progress” on ending the devastating two-year war has been made.
- In the occupied West Bank, Israeli settlers assaulted peace activists and uprooted 120 Palestinian-owned olive trees near Ramallah.
South Africans intensify campaign to isolate Israel
South Africa captured the world’s attention when it took the bold step of bringing Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
But two years later, many South Africans say it’s not enough. Roshan Dadoo, coordinator of the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, said the government must take material steps.
“We still have the Israeli embassy here in Pretoria, and we are calling for that to be shut down and to end trade with Israel,” she said. “It’s horrific that South Africa’s coal is still being shipped to Israel to support its electricity grid, which fuels the genocide and fuels the illegal settlements.”
Dadoo praised the government’s decision to take Israel to the ICJ, but said Pretoria must now follow through on concrete actions.
“We are literally complicit in genocide. We are complicit in the illegal occupation as long as we don’t take these measures.”
