South African Activist Protests German Ambassador’s Presence over Israel Support
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Zackie Achmat, a South African activist, publicly criticized Germany’s ambassador, Andreas Peschke, at a social justice conference for Germany’s support of Israel, urging attendees to walk out in solidarity with Palestinians.
Achmat confronted Peschke during the 6th International Social Justice Conference, held at Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice, objecting to his participation as a panelist.
“Sir, have you no shame. You’re one of the largest arms suppliers to the state of Israel. You are not welcomed in our midst,” Achmat said to Peschke, as captured in a video shared by the Cape Argus on TikTok.
According to local news site IOL, Achmat approached the stage where Peschke sat, accusing Germany of arming Israel and calling on attendees who support Palestine and Lebanon to leave the venue in protest.
The South African government has openly backed the Palestinian cause, with President Cyril Ramaphosa reaffirming on Thursday that the country’s support for Palestine is “irrevocable.”
In late 2023, South Africa lodged a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing it of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by continuing airstrikes on Gaza.
Public hearings for the case began in January, with several nations—including Turkey, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya, and Colombia—joining South Africa's complaint.
The top UN court in May ordered Israel to halt its offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. It was the third time the 15-judge panel issued preliminary orders seeking to rein in the death toll and alleviate suffering in the blockaded enclave, where the casualty count has surpassed 42,400.