The African National Congress (ANC) has commended the South African activists who joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, describing it as a powerful symbol of international solidarity with Palestinians.

A South African delegation joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, which consists of participants from 44 countries, to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.

ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the Flotilla was a vital, non-violent act of defiance against the blockade of Gaza and a powerful statement against the ongoing injustices faced by Palestinians.

She compared the South African activists’ journey to the ANC’s struggle for liberation.

“This mission demonstrates that the spirit of internationalism, which helped dismantle apartheid in South Africa, is now being returned to our Palestinian brothers and sisters,” she said.

More than 60 000 people have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, according to the territory's health ministry.

The ANC hailed the “principled stand” taken by the South Africans volunteers which Bhengu-Motsiri said aligned with the ANC's support for the Palestinian cause and the South African government's action at the International Court of Justice.

“The ANC stands in solidarity with these activists and all who believe that humanity must prevail over oppression. We trust and expect that the government of South Africa will provide the necessary consular support for the South Africans that are part of this flotilla,” she said.