Dear colleagues,
- At the 10th National Congress of SADTU, I am honored to address you today. I am proud to be among you and deeply appreciate your invitation to this land of struggle and liberation.
- I come to you from a place that has never truly known peace, carrying with me the trust of a people who face daily violence—killed, wounded, and arrested. A people who endures injustice and yearn for freedom and independence.
- Our Palestinian people are experiencing a perilous phase in their history, facing an existential threat as the Israeli occupation declares war to eliminate our presence in Gaza and the West Bank.
- Before I continue, I want to share some shocking statistics about the situation in Palestine. These figures highlight the urgent need for solidarity and support for our teachers and students.
- Today marks the 356th day of the ongoing war against our people, with over 41,500 killed, more than 96,000 injured, and over 10,000 missing. The Israeli occupation has completely or partially destroyed over 315 schools and more than 20 universities, leading to a complete suspension of education in Gaza for an entire year. More than 625,000 students are deprived of their right to education. The occupation has claimed the lives of over 11,000 students and wounded more than 17,500. It has also killed over 520 teachers and university professors, injuring more than 3,600.
- Our people are subjected to a war of extermination. Israel has killed one or both parents of at least 15,000 Palestinian children in Gaza. UN agencies report that, on average, ten children in Gaza lose one or both legs each day.
- The Israeli occupation has devastated our infrastructure—roads, electricity networks, water lines, hospitals, schools, and universities. It has closed borders, preventing the entry of food, medical aid, and fuel, pushing our people back to the Stone Age. Many have been displaced, forced to flee to the central Gaza Strip, which now houses over 1.7 million people. The occupation is waging a war of starvation, with dozens of children dying from hunger.
- What is happening to our people is a humanitarian catastrophe. Over 12,000 individuals have been imprisoned, enduring torture day and night, with some subjected to horrific acts of sexual violence. The testimonies of those who have been released reveal unimaginable levels of suffering—deprivation of sleep, food, and water, along with constant beatings and humiliation.
- In the West Bank, cities are destroyed, and communities are isolated by over 800 security checkpoints, transforming villages and towns into open prisons. These checkpoints operate from 8 AM to 6 PM, further restricting movement and freedom.
- Dear colleagues, standing with Palestine is standing for truth, justice, and humanity. At the forefront of solidarity with our people is the Republic of South Africa, the country of Nelson Mandela. We gather today not only to express solidarity but to reaffirm our shared dream of freedom—echoing from the ruins of classrooms in Gaza to the halls of South African schools.
- I am honored to convey a message of support on behalf of Palestinian teachers and wish you success in achieving the union’s goals. Thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to us here.
- On behalf of our people and political leadership, I express our deep appreciation to the Republic of South Africa for its steadfast support of Palestine, particularly its leadership in bringing Israel’s actions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). These actions underscore the importance of upholding international law. We take great pride in the historical relationship between our struggles, which officially began in 1964 with the meeting of two great leaders, Oliver Tambo and Khalil Al-Wazir, in Algeria.
- As we continue our fight against apartheid in our pursuit of freedom, independence, and dignity, we are bolstered by global acknowledgments.
- Finally, thank you for listening and for standing with our people. Long live Palestine!