African heads of state pose for a group photo during the opening of the 37th Ordinary session of the Assembly of the Africa Union.
For years Israel had worked to develop relations with African nations, but on Saturday Feb. 17, African Union leaders condemned Israel for its attack on Gaza and expressed solidarity with Palestinians. But following Israel's offensive in Gaza in Oct. 2023, several African nations have shifted their position.
AU Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, who had previously granted Israel’s inclusion as an observer in the pan-African body in 2021, announced last week that Israel's observer status at the AU was suspended.
Faki also expressed his “full solidarity with the Palestinian people” and said Israel was “exterminating” Gaza’s civilian population in what he characterized as the “most flagrant” violation of international humanitarian law. Also in attendance was Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva who compared Israel’s war in Gaza with Hitler’s Holocaust against the Jews which resulted in an international row between Brazil and Israel.
African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, addresses the opening of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union.
Growing Sentiment in Africa
Several African nations have challenged Israel since its assault on Gaza, including South Africa’s prominent petition against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Tel Aviv of committing “genocide”.
Algerian and Egyptian representatives also spoke at an ICJ hearing this month on Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.Thousands of Africans have also protested Israel's actions in Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.
Many have cited Africa's history of fighting occupied powers and their own fight for liberation as impetus to protest Israel's assault on Gaza.
“South Africa’s foreign policy position since the Mandela presidency has often been on the side of Palestinians against occupation, settler colonialism, indiscriminate bombing and genocide against Palestinians in their territories,” Human Rights Lawyer Nkanyiso Ngqulunga told Al Jazeera in January.
Since Oct. 2023, Israel has killed nearly 30,000 civilians in Gaza and injured more than 60,000 in retaliation for Hamas' attack in Israel on October 7 that killed 1,139 and abducted about 250 Israelis
People hold placards and Palestinian flags in Cape Town, South Africa. By Ahmed Ghoneim, CGTN
